بعَثتُكَ مُرتاداً ففًزتَ بِنَظرَة

بعَثتُكَ مُرتاداً ففًزتَ بِنَظرَة

وأغفلتني حتَّى أسأتُ بكَ الظَّنَّا

وأغفلتني حتَّى أسأتُ بكَ الظَّنَّا

I sent you as a scout, and you gained a glimpse.

I sent you as a visitor, so you succeeded with a glance,

And you neglected me until I came to think ill of you.

And you neglected me until I suspected you.

فناجَيتَ من أهوى وكنتُ مباعداً

فناجَيتَ من أهوى وكنتُ مباعداً

فيا ليت شعري عن دنوِّكَ ما أَغنى

فيا ليت شعري عن دنوِّكَ ما أَغنى

So you spoke privately with the one I love, while I was kept far away.

You whispered to the one you love while I was distant,

Ah, if only I knew what good your nearness did!

Oh, how I wish I knew what drew you near.

وردَّدتَ طرفاً في محاسن وجههَا

وردَّدتَ طرفاً في محاسن وجههَا

ومَتَّعتَ باستماع نَغمتِها أدنَا

ومَتَّعتَ باستماع نَغمتِها أدنَا

And you cast your gaze again and again over the beauties of her face.

You glanced back at the beauty of her face,

And you delighted your ear by listening to her voice.

And took pleasure in listening to her melody up close.

أرى أثراً منها بعينك بيِّناً

أرى أثراً منها بعينك بيِّناً

لقد أخذت عيناك من عَينها حُسنا

لقد أخذت عيناك من عَينها حُسنا

I see a clear trace of her in your eye.

I see a clear mark from her in your eye,

Indeed, your eyes have taken beauty from her eye.

Your eyes have certainly gained beauty from her eyes.

فيا ليتني كنتُ الرسولُ وكُنتَني

فيا ليتني كنتُ الرسولُ وكُنتَني

فكنتَ الذي يُقصَى وكنتُ الذي أُدنَى

فكنتَ الذي يُقصَى وكنتُ الذي أُدنَى

Ah, if only I had been the messenger, and you had been me,

Oh, how I wish I was the messenger and you were me,

Then you would have been the one kept away, and I the one brought near.

So you would be the one sent far away and I would be the one brought near.