أَقُولُ لَمّا اِلتَقَينا وَهِيَ مُعرِضَةٌ

أَقُولُ لَمّا اِلتَقَينا وَهِيَ مُعرِضَةٌ

لِيَهنِكِ اليَومَ مَن تُدنينَ مِن دُوني

لِيَهنِكِ اليَومَ مَن تُدنينَ مِن دُوني

When we met, I said, while she was turning away:

I say, when we met and you turned away

May the one you draw close instead of me bring you joy today.

To scorn me today for those you approach other than me

إِنّي سَأَمنَحُكِ الهِجرانَ مُعتَزِلاً

إِنّي سَأَمنَحُكِ الهِجرانَ مُعتَزِلاً

مِن غَيرِ بُغضٍ لَعَلَّ الهَجرَ يُسلِيني

مِن غَيرِ بُغضٍ لَعَلَّ الهَجرَ يُسلِيني

I shall indeed grant you estrangement, withdrawing,

I will grant you distance, withdrawing

without hatred; perhaps separation will console me.

Without hatred, perhaps separation will console me

قَد كُنتِ جاوَرتِنا وَالدارُ جامِعَةٌ

قَد كُنتِ جاوَرتِنا وَالدارُ جامِعَةٌ

سَقياً وَرَعياً لِذاكَ الدِينِ مِن دِينِ

سَقياً وَرَعياً لِذاكَ الدِينِ مِن دِينِ

You once lived beside us, and our abode brought us together.

You were our neighbor while the house gathered

May that way of life be watered and tended—what a way it was!

Both waterer and shepherd for that religion from religion

مَنَّيتِنا فَرَحاً إِن كُنتِ صادِقَةً

مَنَّيتِنا فَرَحاً إِن كُنتِ صادِقَةً

يا حَبَّ نَفسٍ أَحَقّاً ما تُمَنِّيني

يا حَبَّ نَفسٍ أَحَقّاً ما تُمَنِّيني

You gave us hope of joy, if you were truthful;

You wished us joy if you were truthful

O beloved of my soul, is what you promise me true?

O love of self, is that what you wish me?

أَو تَجعَلِي نُطفَةً في الصَحنِ بارِدَةً

أَو تَجعَلِي نُطفَةً في الصَحنِ بارِدَةً

فَتَجعَلي فاكِ فيها ثُمَّ تَسقِيني

فَتَجعَلي فاكِ فيها ثُمَّ تَسقِيني

Or will you put a little cold water in the bowl,

Or will you make me into a cold seed in a dish

then put your mouth in it and afterward give me a drink?

So make me dissolved in it, then water me

ماذا عَلَيكِ وَقَد أَهدَيتِ لِي سَقَماً

ماذا عَلَيكِ وَقَد أَهدَيتِ لِي سَقَماً

وَغابَ زَوجُكِ يَوماً أَن تَعُودِيني

وَغابَ زَوجُكِ يَوماً أَن تَعُودِيني

What would it cost you, since you have bestowed sickness on me,

What is it to you, when you've given me illness

to visit me when your husband is away for a day?

And your husband was absent a day, that you return to me