1. ردّت الروح على المضنى معك

    أحسن الأيام يوم أرجعك

    With you, the soul was restored to the languishing lover.

    The best of days was the day that brought you back.

  2. تَبعا كانت ورقَّا في النوى

    وقليل للهوى ما أتبعك

    It was a follower and a slave during separation,

    and what followed you was little to give to love.

  3. إن يكن إثرك لم يهلك أسى

    هو ملاك إليه أستشفعك

    If, in your wake, it did not perish of grief,

    it is an angel with whom I seek your intercession.

  4. مر من بعدك ما روّعني

    أتُرى يا حلو بُعدى روّعك

    After you left, things happened that terrified me.

    I wonder, sweet one, did my absence frighten you?

  5. قمت بالبين وما جرعني

    وحملت الشَّطر مما جرعك

    I endured our parting and what it made me swallow,

    and bore half of what it made you swallow.

  6. كم شكوت البث يا ليل إلى

    مطلع البدر عسى أن يُطلِعك

    How often, O night, I lamented my anguish to

    the full moon's rising place, hoping it would bring you forth.

  7. وبعثت الشوق في ريح الصَّبا

    فشكا الحرقة مما أستودعك

    And I sent longing on the east wind,

    so it complained of the burning from what I entrust to you.

  8. لم تسل ما ليله ما ويله

    وسألتُ الريح ماذا ضعضعك

    You did not ask, 'What of his night? What of his woe?'

    And I asked the wind, 'What has shaken you?'

  9. مبدعا في الكيد والدل معا

    لست أشكوك إلى من أبدعك

    Masterful in guile and coyness alike,

    I do not complain of you to the one who fashioned you.

  10. يا نعيمي وعذابي في الهوى

    بعذولي في الهوى ما جَمَّعضك

    O my bliss and my torment in love,

    what [brought you together] with my reproacher in love?

  11. بين عينيك وقلبي رحمة

    نقلت عيناك لى ما أسمعك

    Between your eyes and my heart lies compassion;

    your eyes conveyed to me what I tell you.

  12. أنت روحي ظلم الواشي الذي

    زعم القلب سلا أو ضيّعك

    You are my soul; unjust was the slanderer who

    claimed the heart had ceased to pine or had forsaken you.

  13. موقعي عند لا أعلمه

    آه لو يعلم عندي موقعك

    My place with [you] I do not know.

    Ah, if only your place with me were known!

  14. نحن بانٌ ونسيم في الهوى

    بك أغراني الذي بي أولعك

    We are a bān tree and a breeze in love;

    he who made you enamored of me enticed me with you.

  15. نحن في الحب الحميا والحيا

    قد سقانيها الذي بي شعشعك

    In love, we are heady wine and rain;

    he who diluted you with me has given it to me to drink.

  16. أرجفوا أنك شاك موجع

    ليت بي فوق الضنى ما أوجعك

    They spread alarming rumors that you were ailing and in pain.

    Would that your pain were mine, on top of my wasting sickness.

  17. لو ترى كيف أستهلت أدمعي

    لا رأت أمك يوما أدمعك

    If you could see how my tears streamed forth!

    May your mother never see your tears!

  18. نامت الأعين إلا مقلة

    تسكب الدمع وترعى مضجعك

    All eyes slept, save one

    that pours out tears and keeps watch over your bed.

  19. وتحنت وتمنت أضلعي

    لوفدت مما تلاقى أضلعك

    And my ribs bent tenderly and wished

    they might ransom your ribs from what they endure.

  20. بِيَ من جرحك ألف مثله

    لا خلعُت السقم حتى يدعك

    I bear a thousand wounds like yours.

    May I not cast off sickness until it leaves you.

  21. احتكم في الروح والمال وخذ

    نور عينيَّ عسى أن ينفعك

    Rule over my soul and wealth, and take

    the light of my eyes; perhaps it may help you.