أَهْلاً بِمُعْتَلِّ النَّسِيم وَمَرْحَبا

أَهْلاً بِمُعْتَلِّ النَّسِيم وَمَرْحَبا

وَمُذكّرِي عَهْدَ الصَّبابةِ والصِّبا

وَمُذكّرِي عَهْدَ الصَّبابةِ والصِّبا

Welcome, languid breeze, welcome!

Greetings, O breeze gently blowing, and welcome!

And you who remind me of days of longing and youth.

And reminder of the days of youth and prime.

حَمَلَ التَّحِيّةَ مِنْ أُهَيْلِ المُنْحَنَى

حَمَلَ التَّحِيّةَ مِنْ أُهَيْلِ المُنْحَنَى

وَأَبانَ عَنْهُمْ بِالمقالِ وأَعْربا

وَأَبانَ عَنْهُمْ بِالمقالِ وأَعْربا

It carried greetings from the dear folk of the bend,

It carried the missive from the beloved's abode

And spoke for them in words, plainly and clearly.

And made it known in words that were lucid and plain.

فَعَرفْتُ عَرْفَهُمُ بِهِ لَكِنَّني

فَعَرفْتُ عَرْفَهُمُ بِهِ لَكِنَّني

أَنكَرْتُ صَبْراً عَنْ عُهُودِي نَكَّبَا

أَنكَرْتُ صَبْراً عَنْ عُهُودِي نَكَّبَا

So I recognized their fragrance through it, yet I

I knew their familiar style but I could not

Rejected patience that had strayed from my vows.

Restrain my sorrow for bonds now severed in twain.

يا عَاذِلي كُنْ عَاذِري في حُبِّهمْ

يا عَاذِلي كُنْ عَاذِري في حُبِّهمْ

لَمْ أَلْقَ لِلسّلْوَانِ عَنْهُمْ مَذْهَبا

لَمْ أَلْقَ لِلسّلْوَانِ عَنْهُمْ مَذْهَبا

O you who reproach me, excuse me for loving them.

O you who blame, be lenient in blaming their love,

I have found no way to forget them.

I found no way to forget them or leave them again.

لا تَلْحُ فِيهِمْ بَعْدَمَا أَلِفَ الضَّنَى

لا تَلْحُ فِيهِمْ بَعْدَمَا أَلِفَ الضَّنَى

يَجِدُ الغَرامَ بِهِمْ لَذيذاً طَيِّبا

يَجِدُ الغَرامَ بِهِمْ لَذيذاً طَيِّبا

Do not reproach me over them: once one grows used to wasting sickness,

Do not insist, now that longing has made its home.

One finds passion for them sweet and pleasant.

For love of them is sweet and good to attain.

غَبْتُمْ وأَنْتُمْ حَاضِرُونَ بِمُهْجَتِي

غَبْتُمْ وأَنْتُمْ حَاضِرُونَ بِمُهْجَتِي

فَبِمُهْجَتِي أَفْدِي الحُضُورَ الغُيَّبا

فَبِمُهْجَتِي أَفْدِي الحُضُورَ الغُيَّبا

You have gone, yet you are present in my heart;

You went away, yet you are present in my soul,

So with my lifeblood I ransom those present yet absent.

So with my soul I'll ransom your presence though vain.