لاdo not تعذلونِيreproach me حبّهُlove for him قسرًاagainst one's will بَداappeared
لا تعذلونِي حبّهُ قسرًا بَدا
لمّاwhen طغىgrew overbearing ذاكَthat الفتىyoung man وتسيّداand held sway
لمّا طغى ذاكَ الفتى وتسيّدا
Do not reproach me—my love for him appeared against my will,
when that young man grew overbearing and held sway.
كتّمتُI kept hidden جمرةَember لهفتِيmy yearning فيwithin أضلُعِيmy ribs
كتّمتُ جمرةَ لهفتِي في أضلُعِي
عبثًاin vain .. فزادتْso it increased فيin الفؤادِthe heart توَقّدَاin burning intensity
عبثًا .. فزادتْ في الفؤادِ توَقّدَا
I hid the ember of my yearning within my ribs,
in vain—its burning grew fiercer in my heart.
وسرَتْand it spread بنارٍwith fire فيthrough هشيمِdry tinder جوانِحيmy breast
وسرَتْ بنارٍ في هشيمِ جوانِحي
وكأنّهاand as though it اتفقتْhad conspired عليّagainst me معwith الرّدىdeath
وكأنّها اتفقتْ عليّ مع الرّدى
And it swept in flames through the tinder of my breast,
as though it had conspired with death against me.
رفقًاbe gentle بقلبيwith my heart .. لوif علمتُمyou knew ماwhat بهِis in it
رفقًا بقلبي .. لو علمتُم ما بهِ
أطلقتمُyou would send forth .. نحوَtoward السّماءِheaven لهُfor it يَداa hand
أطلقتمُ .. نحوَ السّماءِ لهُ يَدا
Be gentle with my heart—if you knew what it bears,
you would raise a hand toward heaven for it.