وافى الرَقيب فَقُلت لا

وافى الرَقيب فَقُلت لا

أَهلاً بِطَلعة مِن أَلَم

أَهلاً بِطَلعة مِن أَلَم

The watcher arrived, so I said, “No

The guard arrived, so I said "No,

welcome to the face of whoever has come!”

Hello to a rising born of pain."

وَأَتى الحَبيب بِأَثرِهِ

وَأَتى الحَبيب بِأَثرِهِ

يَخطو فَحيا وِاِبتَسَم

يَخطو فَحيا وِاِبتَسَم

And the beloved came in his wake,

And the beloved came with his trace

Walking along, he greeted and smiled.

Stepping lightly, smiling wide.

فَطفقت أَلثم كَفُهُ

فَطفقت أَلثم كَفُهُ

بِفَم الإِشارة وَالقَدَم

بِفَم الإِشارة وَالقَدَم

Then I began to kiss his palm,

So I began to kiss his hand

With the mouth of gesture—and his foot.

With lips of gesture and foot,

فَكَأنَ ذا لَيل بَدا

فَكَأنَ ذا لَيل بَدا

وَكَأن ذا صُبح هَجَم

وَكَأن ذا صُبح هَجَم

As though this one were night appearing,

As if it were a night unveiled

And that one dawn bursting in.

As if this were a morning raid.