أرأيْتَHave you seen? ماwhat قدْalready قالَsaid ليto me بدرُfull moon الدُّجىthe night's darkness
أرأيْتَ ما قدْ قالَ لي بدرُ الدُّجى
لّماwhen رأىit saw طَرْفيmy eye يُديمُkeeps up سُهوداsleeplessness
لّما رأى طَرْفي يُديمُ سُهودا
Do you know what the full moon of the night said to me
Have you heard what the full moon said to me
When it saw my eyes keeping constant vigil?
When he saw my eyes gazing endlessly?
حتَّامَhow long? ترمُقُنيyou gaze at me بعيْنَيْwith the two eyes of ساهِدِa sleepless person
حتَّامَ ترمُقُني بعيْنَيْ ساهِدِ
أقصِرْdesist فلسْتُfor I am not حبيبَكَyour beloved المَفقوداthe lost one
أقصِرْ فلسْتُ حبيبَكَ المَفقودا
“How long will you gaze at me with the eyes of a sleepless one?
"Lower your eyes when you look upon me,
Desist, for I am not your lost beloved.”
For I'm not your long lost beloved, you see."