1. مَنعَ القَرار مُتيم

    بادي الصَبابَة مُغرَمُ

    A man enslaved by love is denied repose,

    his longing plain, consumed by love.

  2. في قَلبِهِ جَيش الصَبا

    بَة وَالهُموم مُخيم

    In his heart, the army of longing

    and sorrows lies encamped.

  3. أَمَروهُ إِن يَخفي الهَوى

    وَالحُب ما لا يَكتم

    They ordered him to conceal his passion,

    yet love is something that cannot be hidden.

  4. هَيهات أَن يَخفي هَوى

    عَنهُ الدُموع تترجم

    He could never hide a passion

    of which his tears speak.

  5. قَد باتَ في لَيل السَلي

    م فَكَيفَ لا يَتَأَلم

    He has spent a night like a snakebitten man's;

    how, then, should he not suffer?

  6. وَمَمنع يَشقي بِهِ ال

    مُشتاق وَهُوَ منعم

    And an unapproachable beloved torments

    the yearning lover, while he lives in ease.

  7. جَذلان يُبصر عَبرَتي

    تَجري لَدَيهِ فَيَبسم

    Gleeful, he watches my tears

    flow before him, and he smiles.

  8. وَكَأَنَّما في مُقلَتَي

    هِ ساحر يَتَكَلَم

    And it is as though within his two eyes

    a sorcerer speaks.

  9. وَكَأَنَّ فاتك طَرفِهِ

    مَع فَتكِهِ يتَظلَمُ

    And as though his murderous gaze,

    despite its slaughter, complains of wrong.

  10. وَلَقد يَحلُّ لَماه في ال

    إِنصاف وَهُوَ مُحرمُ

    Indeed, his dark lips should be lawful,

    in fairness, though they are forbidden.

  11. لم لا يَحلل لي الشَفا

    ءَ مِن السقام المُسقم

    Why will he not allow me healing

    from this enfeebling sickness?

  12. لَم يَنهَ عَن إِحياء نَفس

    غَير مَن لا يَعلم

    None has forbidden the saving of a soul

    save one who knows nothing.

  13. وَلَقد سَمعت مَع الصَبا

    ح حَمامَةً تَتَرَنَم

    And I heard in the morning

    a dove singing.

  14. كادَت تُقاسِمني الهَوى

    لَو أَنَّهُ يَتقسم

    She would almost share my passion,

    if it could be divided.

  15. وَيَزيد ما بِالعاشِقين

    مِن الغَليل وَيَضرم

    And what ails the lovers—

    their burning thirst—is heightened and inflamed

  16. طَير يَنوح بِشَجوِهِ

    أَو مَنزل يَتَرَنَم

    by a bird lamenting its sorrow,

    or a dwelling singing.

  17. يا مَن يُريد بِهَجرِهِ

    تَلفي تَعيش وَتَسلم

    O you who seek, by forsaking me,

    my ruin—may you live and be safe!

  18. الوَصل مِنكَ مُحرم

    وَالصَبر عَنكَ مذمم

    Union with you is forbidden,

    and patience without you is blameworthy.

  19. وَالظَرف فيكَ مَجمَع

    وَالحُسن مِنكَ مقسم

    And charm is gathered in you,

    and beauty is apportioned from you.

  20. لا يَنصر الهمان فيكَ

    سِوى دُموع تَسجم

    Nothing aids the lover distraught for you

    save tears that stream.

  21. وَيَضلُّ في آيات حُسنَك

    عَقلُهُ المتوسم

    And lost amid the signs of your beauty

    is his discerning mind.

  22. مَن ذا يُشاهد فِتنة ال

    حَرَكات مِنكَ ويَسلَم

    Who can behold the enchantment of

    your movements and escape unharmed?

  23. أَم مَن يَرى ذُلي لَدَي

    ك وَلا يَرقُّ وَيَرحَم

    Or who can see my abasement before you

    and not soften and show mercy?

  24. لَجَّ السقام وَكُلُ شَيءٍ

    حينَ تَعرض يولم

    The sickness persists, and everything,

    when you turn away, causes pain.

  25. سَلمت لِلرَحمَن أَم

    ري وَالمُحب مُسلم

    I have entrusted my affairs to the All-Merciful;

    and the lover submits.