1. يا علي ان قلبي قد له أيام مفقود

    ما دريت أين قلبي غاب وأمسيت مكبود

    O Ali, my heart has indeed been missing for days.

    I do not know where my heart has vanished; evening found me grief-stricken.

  2. هو غوى في طريق أو هو معا شخص موجود

    أو سحر يا علي أو صيب أو صار مكيود

    Has it strayed along a road, or is it there with someone?

    Or was it bewitched, O Ali, or stricken, or ensnared by guile?

  3. كم بذلته لمن جابه وكم وعد موعود

    والبشارة له بعد الدّعا فلو مقيود

    How much I have offered whoever brings it back, and how many promises I have made!

    And his reward, after prayers, is a tethered colt,

  4. والكسا كل فاخر والف دينار منقود

    دوّروا لي قليبي لا تبقون مجهود

    And fine clothing of every kind, and a thousand dinars in cash.

    Search for my little heart for me; spare no effort.

  5. خافه إلا نهبه داجي النسع السود

    مثل حشد العنب عنقود من فوق عنقود

    I fear none but the one with night-dark black tresses has stolen it,

    Like massed grapes, cluster above cluster,

  6. والذي مبسمه في وشمة الدرّ منضود

    سامي العنق رابي الكفل والخضر مملود

    And whose smiling mouth shows pearls arrayed within a tattooed outline,

    With a lofty neck, full haunches, and a supple waist.

  7. مثله خالقه في الحسن من غير مشهود

    كأنه ما سمع في الشعر قول ابن مسعود

    His Creator fashioned him in beauty unlike anything ever seen.

    As though he had never heard Ibn Mas‘ud's words in verse:

  8. يا الذي هشت قلبي عادلي منك مردود

    هشت قلبي وأنا محتاج له وأنت مسدود

    O you who snatched my heart, it is still due back to me from you.

    You snatched my heart though I need it, while you lack for nothing.

  9. يا سريع الفرج يا واسع الفضل والجود

    يا مفرّج على أيوب يا ناصراً هود

    O swift in bringing relief, O boundless in grace and generosity,

    O giver of relief to Ayyub, O helper of Hud,

  10. ردّ قلبي على فطرته يا خير معبود

    ثم يا قلب ملك في الغوى حدّ محدود

    Restore my heart to its original nature, O best of all who are worshipped.

    Then, O heart, your straying knows no fixed bounds.

  11. فاز أهل التقى وانته من القوم مبعود

    الزم الباب واقصد خالقك خير مقصود

    The people of piety have triumphed, while you are excluded from their company.

    Cling to the door and seek your Creator, the best one to seek.

  12. واغتنم توتبك ما زال الامهال ممدود

    ناد يا واسع الرحمه ويا خير محمود

    And seize your chance to repent while the respite still lasts.

    Call out: O boundless in mercy, O best of those praised,

  13. ارحم السائل الواقف من الباب مردود

    وان عصينا فمنك الفضل والجود معهود

    Have mercy on the supplicant standing there, turned away from the door.

    And even if we have disobeyed, grace and generosity are known to come from you.

  14. ثم صلوا على أحمد عدّ ما هبت النود

    عدّ ما قمري غنا على طلح منضود

    Then send blessings upon Ahmad, as often as the breezes have blown,

    As often as a turtledove has sung upon an acacia laden in tiers.