وماand not جفانيforsook me مَنthe one who كانwas ليto me أُنُساًa comfort
وما جفاني مَن كان لي أُنُساً
أنستُI found solace شوقاًout of longing ببعضin some of أسبابهْhis belongings
أنستُ شوقاً ببعض أسبابهْ
And the one who had been my solace did not shun me;
And the one who was my comfort did not forsake me.
out of longing, I found comfort in some tokens of him—
Out of longing, I found solace in some of his belongings.
كمثلlike يعقوبJacob بعدafter يوسفJoseph إذwhen
كمثل يعقوب بعد يوسف إذ
حنَّhe yearned إلىto شَمِّsmell بعضsome of أثوابِهْhis garments
حنَّ إلى شَمِّ بعض أثوابِهْ
like Jacob after losing Joseph, when
Like Jacob after Joseph, when
he yearned to smell some of his garments.
He yearned to smell some of his garments.
دخلتُI entered بابَthe gate of الهوىlove وليand I had بَصَرٌsight
دخلتُ بابَ الهوى ولي بَصَرٌ
وفيand in خروجيmy departure عميتُI became blind عنto بابِهْits gate
وفي خروجي عميتُ عن بابِهْ
I entered passion’s gate with my sight intact,
I entered the gate of love while I could see;
yet as I came out, I was blind to its gate.
And as I left, I became blind to its gate.
