على بُعدك لا يصب

على بُعدك لا يصب

رُ من عادَتُه القُربُ

رُ من عادَتُه القُربُ

Your distance cannot be endur—

Your distance—he has no patience for it,

Your distance cannot be endured

—ed by one whose habit is closeness;

he whose custom is nearness;

by one accustomed to nearness.

ولا يقوى على هجر

ولا يقوى على هجر

ك من تيّمَهُ الحب

ك من تيّمَهُ الحب

nor can he withstand abandon—

nor has he strength to bear your forsaking,

Nor can your estrangement be borne

—ment by you—he whom love has enthralled.

he whom love has enslaved.

by one whom love has enthralled.

فمهلا أيها الساقي

فمهلا أيها الساقي

فقد أسكرني الشرب

فقد أسكرني الشرب

Easy now, O cupbearer,

So gently, O cupbearer—

So go gently, O cupbearer,

for drink has made me drunk.

the drink has already made me drunk.

for drinking has intoxicated me.

فإن لم ترك العينُ

فإن لم ترك العينُ

فقد يُبصِرُك القلب

فقد يُبصِرُك القلب

And if the eye should not see you,

And if the eye should not see you,

For if the eye does not see you,

the heart may yet behold you.

the heart may yet behold you.

then the heart may behold you.