ليI have نحوtoward منthose who ازمعواresolved السيرthe journey التفاتاتglances
لي نحو من ازمعوا السير التفاتات
فيهاin them منfrom الوجدlonging حناتplaintive cries واناتand groans
فيها من الوجد حنات وانات
I cast glances toward those who resolved to depart,
I have inclinations like those who set out on a journey
In them are longing's plaintive cries and groans.
In them are affections and sighs from passion
لاmay not اوحشleave bereft اللهGod ممنof those who عيسهمtheir pale camels نفرتsped away
لا اوحش الله ممن عيسهم نفرت
قبلbefore الغروبsunset وللحادينand the camel-drivers have اصواتvoices
قبل الغروب وللحادين اصوات
May God not leave me bereft of those whose pale camels sped away
May God not make me lonelier than those whom I've avoided
Before sunset, while the camel-drivers' voices sounded.
Before sunset, while seekers have voices
سرواthey journeyed by night ولكنand yet فوأديmy heart عنوةby force اسرواthey captured
سروا ولكن فوأدي عنوة اسروا
وخلفونيand they left me behind وليand I have ندبlamentation وصيحاتand cries
وخلفوني ولي ندب وصيحات
They journeyed by night, but seized my heart by force,
They left, but alas, they left forcibly
And left me behind with lamentation and cries.
And they left me with lamentations and cries
لاno قصدaim للقلبfor the heart الاهمexcept them اجلindeed ولهand it has
لا قصد للقلب الاهم اجل وله
بحبهمin love for them فيin الهوىpassion نهيprohibition واثباتand affirmation
بحبهم في الهوى نهي واثبات
The heart seeks none but them—indeed; and it has
My heart desires nothing but them, though after time
In love for them, in passion, prohibition and affirmation.
With love for them, forbiddance and affirmation
والهفتاهalas, my anguish! أو'my brief moments' (opening fragment) يقاتي'my brief moments' (remaining fragment) بهمwith them قصرتwere short
والهفتاه أو يقاتي بهم قصرت
وبعدهمand after them ليI have آهاتsighs طويلاتlong
وبعدهم لي آهات طويلات
Alas! My brief moments with them were short,
I've shortened my aspirations, or strove for them in vain
And after their departure, long sighs are mine.
And after them I have prolonged sighs
مضتthey passed قصاراًbrief ولمand did not اعلمI know بقيمتهاof their worth
مضت قصاراً ولم اعلم بقيمتها
ياoh حسنthe beauty اوقاتهاtheir times تلكthose الاويقاتthe brief moments
يا حسن اوقاتها تلك الاويقات
They passed briefly, and I did not know their worth.
They passed quickly, and I did not know their value
Oh, how lovely were their times—those brief moments!
Oh beautiful times, those moments
عسىmay الذيHe who قدرdecreed التفريقseparation يعقبهfollow it with
عسى الذي قدر التفريق يعقبه
جمعاreunion وللهand God has الطافacts of kindness خفياتhidden
جمعا ولله الطاف خفيات
May He who decreed separation follow it
I hope the one who ordained the separation will follow it with
With reunion; and God has hidden kindnesses.
A reunion, and God knows hidden matters