كمhow long ذاthis الجفاcoldness وإلىand until متىwhen الهَجْرُestrangement
كم ذا الجفا وإلى متى الهَجْرُ
شبّblazed up الهوىlove وتعذّرand became impossible الصَّبرُpatience
شبّ الهوى وتعذّر الصَّبرُ
How long this coldness, and how long this estrangement?
How long this estrangement, when will it end?
Love has blazed up, and patience has become impossible.
Love's fire still burns, patience near spent.
ذَهَبَتْvanished قوىًstrengths قدindeed كنتُI used to أعرفهاknow them
ذَهَبَتْ قوىً قد كنتُ أعرفها
وتجلّدٌand fortitude أودىbrought ruin بهِupon it الدَّهرُtime
وتجلّدٌ أودى بهِ الدَّهرُ
The strength I once knew has vanished,
Strength I once knew is no longer within,
And time has laid fortitude to waste.
While steadfastness falters, life's burdens prevent.
حتّامَuntil when أحملُI bear فيكَfor you منfrom كَلَفيmy ardent love
حتّامَ أحملُ فيكَ من كَلَفي
ماwhat لاnot يطيقُcan endure لِحَمْلِهto carry it الصَّخرُrock
ما لا يطيقُ لِحَمْلِه الصَّخرُ
How long must I bear, in my ardent love for you,
More than a rock could endure I now bear,
What rock itself cannot bear?
Though advise may help, my mind will not hear.
ومعنَّفٍand many a reprover أدّىconveyed نصيحتَهhis counsel
ومعنَّفٍ أدّى نصيحتَه
لوif لمnot يكُنْthere were فيin مَسمعيmy hearing وقرُdeafness
لو لم يكُنْ في مَسمعي وقرُ
And many a reprover would have conveyed his counsel,
Why expect mercy from one who condemns?
Had there been no deafness in my hearing.
When in love, my excuse should serve to defend.
ماذاwhat علىupon العذّالthe reproachers لوif عذرواthey excused
ماذا على العذّال لو عذروا
إذsince فيin الهوىlove العذريّchaste; ʿUdhri ليfor me عُذْرُan excuse
إذ في الهوى العذريّ لي عُذْرُ
What would it cost the reproachers to excuse me,
My eyes, your time of generosity is now,
Since in chaste, ʿUdhri love I have an excuse?
So flow forth, for you both are seas I endow.
عينيَّO my two eyes هذاthis وقتُtime جودِكماyour generosity (you two)
عينيَّ هذا وقتُ جودِكما
فتدفّقاso gush forth, you two فكلاكماfor each of you two بحرُa sea
فتدفّقا فكلاكما بحرُ
My two eyes, this is the time for your generosity:
So gush forth, for each of you is a sea.
Partial English translation: 10 of 12 Arabic lines translated.