يا وَحشَتا ما بُليتُ مِن قَمَرٍ

يا وَحشَتا ما بُليتُ مِن قَمَرٍ

فَرَّقَ شَملي وَكانَ مُؤتَلِفا

فَرَّقَ شَملي وَكانَ مُؤتَلِفا

O my desolation! How I have been afflicted by a moon

O my solitude, never have I suffered from a moon

That scattered my union, once united.

That dispersed my gathering though it was harmonious

سارَ إِلى حَيثُ سارَ أَكرَهُ أَن

سارَ إِلى حَيثُ سارَ أَكرَهُ أَن

أَذكُرَهُ إِن ذَكَرتُهُ عُرِفا

أَذكُرَهُ إِن ذَكَرتُهُ عُرِفا

He traveled where he traveled; I am loath to

It marched to where it marched though I disliked that it

Mention him—if I mentioned him, he would be recognized.

Should be mentioned. If I mention it, it is well-known

حَتّى إِذا ما شَخَصتُ أَطلُبُهُ

حَتّى إِذا ما شَخَصتُ أَطلُبُهُ

خالَفَني في الطَريقِ مُنصَرِفا

خالَفَني في الطَريقِ مُنصَرِفا

Until, when I set out to seek him,

Until when I straightened up to seek it

He went the opposite way to me on the road, returning.

It turned away from me on the road, turning aside