رَأَيتُ لَها ناراً تُشَبُّ وَدونَها

بَواطِنُ مِن ذي رَجرَجٍ وَظَواهِرُ

I saw a fire kindled for her, and around it

Inner depths with burbling and appearances

فَخَفَّضتُ قَلبي بَعدَ ما قُلتُ إِنَّهُ

إِلى نارِها مِن عاصِفِ الشَوقِ طائِرُ

So I lowered my heart after I said it was

Flying to her fire from the storm of passion

فَقُلتُ لِعَمروٍ تِلكَ يا عَمرو دارُها

تُشَبُّ بِها نارٌ فَهَل أَنتَ ناظِرُ

So I said to 'Amro, "That, O 'Amro, is her house

A fire burns in it - are you looking?"

تَقادَمَ مِنّي العَهدُ حَتّى كَأَنَّني

لِذكرَتِها مِن طولِ ما مَرَّ هاجِرُ

My pact with her has been long ago now, so that

For remembering her after so long I am an emigrant

وَفي مِثلِ ما جَرَّبتُ منذُ صَحِبتَني

عَذَرتَ أَبا يَحيى لَو انَّكَ عاذِرُ

And in the like of what I have experienced since you accompanied me

You would excuse Abu Yahya if you were one who offered excuses

كَريمٌ يُميتُ السِرَّ حَتّى كَأَنَّهُ

عَمٍ بِنواحي أَمرِها وَهوَ خابِرُ

Generous, who makes the secret die, as though he were

Informed about the regions of her affair and he is a confidant

إِذا قُلتُ أَنساها وَأَخلَقَ ذِكرُها

تَثَنَّت بِذِكراها هُمومٌ نَوافِرُ

When I say "I forgot her" and the remembrance of her

Misfortunes, abundant, double at her remembrance