تاللَه ما لَثمُ المَراشِف

تاللَه ما لَثمُ المَراشِف

كلا ولا ضَمُّ المعاطف

كلا ولا ضَمُّ المعاطف

By God, kissing lips is not—

By God, the kiss of pillows

no, nor is embracing bodies—

No, nor the embrace of cloaks

بألذَّ وَقعا في حَشا

بألذَّ وَقعا في حَشا

ي من الكنافة والقَطَائف

ي من الكنافة والقَطَائف

sweeter in its effect upon my heart

Is as sweet in my perception

than kunafa and qatayef.

As the hut and little chambers

بالصوم والإفلاس بِن

بالصوم والإفلاس بِن

تُ عن السُّلافَةِ والسوالف

تُ عن السُّلافَةِ والسوالف

Through fasting and pennilessness, I have parted

With fasting and with want, have I

from fine wine and necks.

Turned from comfort and from prattle

لم يَبقَ إلا الاعتكا

لم يَبقَ إلا الاعتكا

فُ فقد كَفَى ما كَنتُ عاكف

فُ فقد كَفَى ما كَنتُ عاكف

Nothing remains but devotional retreat;

Naught remains except seclusion

for I have spent quite enough time secluded.

It suffices what I was intent upon

حَتَّامَ أمشى في طلا

حَتَّامَ أمشى في طلا

ب معيشتي والرزقُ واقف

ب معيشتي والرزقُ واقف

How long must I walk in pursuit

Until I walk seeking my livelihood

of my livelihood, while sustenance stands still?

While sustenance and means have ceased

من منصفي من حَيفِ ده

من منصفي من حَيفِ ده

رٍ لم يَزَل في الحُكم حائف

رٍ لم يَزَل في الحُكم حائف

Who will secure me justice against the wrongs of Time,

Who is just to me for the wrong

which has never ceased to judge unjustly?

Of a time that continues to waver

كم قد جَرَت بيني وَبي

كم قد جَرَت بيني وَبي

نَ صروفه قدماً مَوَاقَف

نَ صروفه قدماً مَوَاقَف

How many encounters have taken place between me

How many events occurred between me and it

and its vicissitudes in days gone by!

Steps of separation and meeting

وأجارَني موسى بما

وأجارَني موسى بما

أسدَاهُ من تِلكَ العَوارِف

أسدَاهُ من تِلكَ العَوارِف

And Musa protected me with

And Musa protected me with what

those favors he bestowed.

He bestowed of those virtues