جَسَرتُ عَلى بابِ الهَوى فَدَخَلتُهُ

جَسَرتُ عَلى بابِ الهَوى فَدَخَلتُهُ

فَقَد جاءَني مِنهُ الَّذي كُنتُ أَفرَقُ

فَقَد جاءَني مِنهُ الَّذي كُنتُ أَفرَقُ

I dared approach the gate of love and entered it.

I ventured to love's door and entered in,

For from it has come to me what I used to fear.

And met the fate I had hoped to evade.

فَما ذاقَ طَعمُ المَوتِ في كَأسِ لَذَّةٍ

فَما ذاقَ طَعمُ المَوتِ في كَأسِ لَذَّةٍ

وَلا سَهِرَت عَينُ اِمرِئٍ لَيسَ يَعشَقُ

وَلا سَهِرَت عَينُ اِمرِئٍ لَيسَ يَعشَقُ

For no one has tasted death’s flavor in a cup of pleasure,

None knows the savor of death in the cup of joy,

Nor has any man’s eye stayed awake, unless he is in love.

None watches through the night who is not lovesick.