خليليَّO my two friends عوجاturn aside, you two بالديارat the dwellings فإنّماfor only
خليليَّ عوجا بالديار فإنّما
دعوتكماI called upon you both باسمin the name of الخِلالfriendship لتفعلاso that you both might do so
دعوتكما باسم الخِلال لتفعلا
My two friends, turn aside at the dwellings, for
I called on you in friendship’s name only that you might do so.
ديارُthe dwellings of التيher whom أرعيتُهاI let her graze on بارِضَthe first shoots of الهوَىlove
ديارُ التي أرعيتُها بارِضَ الهوَى
وأمطرتُهاand I showered her with وسميَّthe early autumn rain of دمعِيَmy tears أوَّلاfirst
وأمطرتُها وسميَّ دمعِيَ أوَّلا
The dwellings of her whom I let graze on love’s first shoots,
And first showered with my tears’ early autumn rain.
جعلتُI made لهاfor her صدريmy breast مَراداًa roaming ground تَرودُهthat she roams over
جعلتُ لها صدري مَراداً تَرودُه
وبوَّأْتهاand I lodged her منfrom حبةِthe core of القلبthe heart منزلاa dwelling
وبوَّأْتها من حبةِ القلب منزلا
I made my breast a range for her to roam,
And gave her a home in the very core of my heart.
فماso never عَلقتْbecame attached منfrom قبلهاbefore her النفسُthe soul مَعْلقاًany object of attachment
فما عَلقتْ من قبلها النفسُ مَعْلقاً
ولاnor اتخذتit took منfrom بعدهاafter her متعلَّلاa source of solace
ولا اتخذت من بعدها متعلَّلا
So my soul formed no attachment before her,
Nor took anything for solace after her.