أحِبَّايَ كم لي نحوكم من تحيّةٍ

أحِبَّايَ كم لي نحوكم من تحيّةٍ

أحَمِّلُها هبَّاتِ كُلِّ جَنوبِ

أحَمِّلُها هبَّاتِ كُلِّ جَنوبِ

My beloved ones, how many greetings I have for you—

My beloved ones, how many greetings I have for you!

I entrust them to the gusts of every south wind.

I entrust them to the gusts of every south wind.

فلا تتركوا ردَّ السلام إذا جرتْ

فلا تتركوا ردَّ السلام إذا جرتْ

شمالٌ على نائي المحلِّ غريبِ

شمالٌ على نائي المحلِّ غريبِ

So do not fail to return my greeting whenever

So do not neglect to return the greeting when there blows

a north wind blows upon a stranger far from home.

A north wind over a stranger dwelling far away.

غريبٌ له نفسانِ نفسٌ بواسطٍ

غريبٌ له نفسانِ نفسٌ بواسطٍ

ونفسٌ بسامرَّا بكفِّ حبيبِ

ونفسٌ بسامرَّا بكفِّ حبيبِ

An exile has two souls: one in Wāsiṭ,

A stranger with two souls: one soul in Wasit,

and one in Samarra, held in a beloved’s hand.

And one soul in Samarra, in a beloved's palm.

تقسّمتِ الأَسقامُ أعضاءَ جسمِهِ

تقسّمتِ الأَسقامُ أعضاءَ جسمِهِ

ففي كلّ عضوٍ مَألفٌ لكئيبِ

ففي كلّ عضوٍ مَألفٌ لكئيبِ

His illnesses have apportioned among themselves the limbs of his body,

Ailments have divided the members of his body among themselves;

so in every limb some grievous ailment makes its home.

So in each member is a dwelling for a sorrowful one.

وليس بشافيهِ من الجَهْد والضّنى

وليس بشافيهِ من الجَهْد والضّنى

سوى شَرْبةٍ من ريق غيرِ مُثيبِ

سوى شَرْبةٍ من ريق غيرِ مُثيبِ

Nothing can heal him of exhaustion and wasting

And nothing can heal him of suffering and wasting illness

save a sip of saliva from one who gives no love in return,

Except a sip of saliva from one who does not requite his love,

وشَمِّ جنِيِّ الوردِ من وجناتهِ

وشَمِّ جنِيِّ الوردِ من وجناتهِ

وأخذٍ لهُ من قُربهِ بنصيبِ

وأخذٍ لهُ من قُربهِ بنصيبِ

and smelling roses freshly gathered from his cheeks,

And inhaling the scent of freshly picked roses from his cheeks,

and gaining a share of closeness to him.

And gaining for himself a share of closeness to him.