عجبتُ لظبي فاتر اللّحظ فاتن

عجبتُ لظبي فاتر اللّحظ فاتن

ولم يلتفت يوما إليّ بعطفه

ولم يلتفت يوما إليّ بعطفه

I marveled at an enchanting gazelle with a languid gaze,

I wondered at the indifference of the alluring gazelle

Yet never once did he turn toward me with affection.

Who never once turned to me affectionately

سلت عزمة السّلوان منهُ زواجرُ

سلت عزمة السّلوان منهُ زواجرُ

من اللّحظ فانكفّ السّلوّ بطرفه

من اللّحظ فانكفّ السّلوّ بطرفه

Forgetfulness was stripped of its resolve by rebukes

I asked the nightingale in the acacia to dissuade him

From his glance; so forgetfulness recoiled at his gaze.

With a glance, but the nightingale turned away

مليحٌ نحا صرف اصطباري صدُّهُ

مليحٌ نحا صرف اصطباري صدُّهُ

فلله من نحو الحبيب وصرفه

فلله من نحو الحبيب وصرفه

A beauty whose rejection sought to turn my patience aside—

How excellent that my patience thwarted his aloofness

By God, how wondrous the beloved’s approach and turning away!

God, what a rejection from my beloved!

إذا الشّمس تاهت بالضّياء وبُعدها

إذا الشّمس تاهت بالضّياء وبُعدها

أعارضُها باسم الحبيب وحرفه

أعارضُها باسم الحبيب وحرفه

Whenever the sun boasts of its radiance and remoteness,

When the sun loses its brightness and distance

I counter it with the beloved’s name and his letter.

I invoke my beloved's name and letter

فما وجدُ قلبي من فتور بلحظه

فما وجدُ قلبي من فتور بلحظه

فيالك من ضعف الغرام وضعفه

فيالك من ضعف الغرام وضعفه

So what longing fills my heart from the languor in his glance!

So I found no weakness in my heart for his glance

Ah, love’s weakness—and its redoubling!

Oh, the frailty of ardent love and its frailty!