وفارقت من أهواه كرها كأنني

وفارقت من أهواه كرها كأنني

أجود بنفسي عند فرقته قهرا

أجود بنفسي عند فرقته قهرا

I parted unwillingly from the one I love, as though I

I left the one I loved though against my will

were forced to surrender my life at parting from him.

As if I generously gave myself when we were separated by force

ولم أر مثل البين أقتل للفتى

ولم أر مثل البين أقتل للفتى

ولا كالهوى حلوا إذا ذقته مرّا

ولا كالهوى حلوا إذا ذقته مرّا

And I have seen nothing deadlier to a young man than separation,

I have not seen anything that kills a young man like separation

Nor anything like love—sweet, yet bitter when you taste it.

Or anything as sweet as love when you taste its bitterness

وسمت الثرى بالدمع حتى كأنما

وسمت الثرى بالدمع حتى كأنما

سماكيّة رشّت على عطش قطرا

سماكيّة رشّت على عطش قطرا

I marked the earth with tears, until it was as though

I watered the ground with my tears until it was as though

a Simāk raincloud had sprinkled raindrops upon thirsty ground.

Clouds poured a shower onto thirsty ground

فيا قلب صبرا ما استطعت ومن يطق

فيا قلب صبرا ما استطعت ومن يطق

على فقد من يهوى وهجرانه صبرا

على فقد من يهوى وهجرانه صبرا

So, heart, be patient as long as you can—but who can bear

So O my heart be patient as much as you can

the loss and estrangement of the one he loves with patience?

For who can bear the loss and abandonment of one's beloved?