سألتُ منهُ الوصل في خلوه

سألتُ منهُ الوصل في خلوه

وقد خفى عنها الرّقيبُ وغاب

وقد خفى عنها الرّقيبُ وغاب

I asked him for union in his seclusion,

I asked for union in his seclusion

while the watcher was hidden from her and gone.

While the guardian was hidden and absent

فقال ولو تُخفي وصالي فما

فقال ولو تُخفي وصالي فما

في الوصل بيننا من حجاب

في الوصل بيننا من حجاب

He said, “Even if you conceal union with me, there is

He said even if you hide our union

no veil between us in union.”

Between us in union there is no veil

فقلتُ كيف القولُ عن ذا وهل

فقلتُ كيف القولُ عن ذا وهل

يُوصفُ الإخفاء غيرُ الغراب

يُوصفُ الإخفاء غيرُ الغراب

I said, “How can that be said, and is

I said how can this be said of that

concealment ascribed to anyone but al-Ghurab—the raven?”

Concealment cannot be described but by the raven