1. وحنينٌ ولكنْ أين منك زرودْ

    وشوقٌ ولكنَّ المزار بعيدُ

    And yearning—but how far from you is Zarud!

    And longing—but the destination is far away.

  2. نعم إنها نفسٌ تتوق إلى الصبي

    وهيهات ماضي العيش ليس يعود

    Yes, it is a soul that yearns for youth;

    And alas, life's past never returns.

  3. تقيم على بأس وللشوق في الحشا

    زميل إلى سكانها ووحيد

    It dwells in hardship, and longing has within the breast

    A companion drawn toward its dwellers, yet alone.

  4. مراد وما فيه لطرفك مسرح

    وماء ولكنْ ما إليه ورود

    A desired place, yet no room there for your gaze to roam;

    And water—but no way to come and drink of it.

  5. وفي الدمع بعد البين ما ينفع الصدى

    بلى ما لنار العاشقين خمود

    And in tears after parting there is something to relieve thirst;

    Indeed, the lovers' fire never dies.

  6. ينمُّ شحوبي بالذي أنا كاتمٌ

    ويفصح جفني واللسانُ بليد

    My pallor betrays what I conceal,

    And my eyelid speaks plainly, while my tongue is sluggish.

  7. قضيّة وجدٍ والسقامُ دليلها

    ودعوى غرامٍ والدموعُ شهود

    A case of longing, with sickness as its evidence,

    And a claim of passion, with tears as witnesses.

  8. ولي بالحمى قلبٌ بعيدٌ إيابهُ

    أسائل عنه الحيَّ وهو فقيد

    And I have a heart in the sanctuary, its return far off;

    I ask the tribe about it, though it is lost.

  9. سليبُ سيوفِ الهند وهيَ لواحظٌ

    ونهبُ رماحِ الخطِّ وهي قدود

    The spoil of India's swords—which are glances—

    And the plunder of al-Khatt's spears—which are slender forms.

  10. إذا حدَّثت ريحُ الصّبا عن غصونهِ

    فللوجدِ منهُ طارفٌ وتليد

    When the east wind speaks of its branches,

    Then longing draws from it treasures both new and inherited.

  11. خليليَّ يومَ المنحنى هل علمتما

    بأنَّ قتيلَ الغانيات شهيد

    My two friends, on the day at the bend, did you know

    That one slain by beauties is a martyr?

  12. غداة لحاظُ البيضِ بيضٌ صوارمٌ

    وسود الجفونِ الفاتراتِ أسود

    That morning, the fair women's glances were keen white swords,

    And the dark, languid eyelids were lions.

  13. مهى رجّحُ الأكفالِ مثقلةُ الخطى

    خماضُ الحشا هيفُ المعاطفِ غيد

    Oryxes, heavy-haunched, with burdened steps,

    Slim of waist, slender of frame, supple.

  14. فللحسن منهنَّ النضارةُ والصّبا

    وللحزن منَّا أدمعٌ وخدود

    So beauty has from them freshness and youth,

    And sorrow has from us tears and cheeks.

  15. فلا تطلبا مني مزيدَ صبابةٍ

    فبرحُ اشتياقي ما عليه مزيد

    So do not ask me, you two, for more ardent longing;

    For the agony of my longing can grow no greater.

  16. تغيّر في حكم الهوى كلُّ صاحبٍ

    كذاك الليالي ما لهنَّ عهود

    Every companion has changed under love's rule;

    So too the nights: they keep no pledges.

  17. فللغمض بعد الظاعنين قطيعةٌ

    وللطّيفِ من بعد الفراق صدود

    So, since the travelers left, sleep and I are estranged;

    And since parting, the dream-vision turns away.

  18. فيا كبدي أين الهدوُّ من الجوى

    ويا جفنَ عيني أين منكِ هجود

    So, O my liver, where is respite from love's anguish?

    And O eyelid of my eye, how far from you is slumber!

  19. يؤرّقني البرقُ الحجازيُ كلما

    سرى والعيونُ المسهراتُ رقود

    The lightning of the Hijaz keeps me awake whenever

    It travels by night, while sleep-stealing eyes lie asleep.

  20. يؤمُّ الحيا طلقَ الأسرةِ باسماً

    كوجهِ صلاحِ الدينِ حين يجود

    It leads the rain, bright of countenance and smiling,

    Like Salah al-Din's face when he gives generously.