فكأنّ تُونس إذ رُمتُ عنها

فكأنّ تُونس إذ رُمتُ عنها

سفرا فالأمطارُ عنها توالت

سفرا فالأمطارُ عنها توالت

So it was as though Tunis, when I meant to leave her

As though Tunis, when I set out from her,

on a journey—and the rains from her came one after another—

On a journey, and the rains ceased falling on her,

بخلت بي فكلّما رام شوقي

بخلت بي فكلّما رام شوقي

انتزاعا من راحتيها تباكت

انتزاعا من راحتيها تباكت

was loath to part with me; whenever my longing sought

Was miserly to me, so whenever my longing

to wrench me from her palms, she feigned weeping.

Sought to wrest some of its tranquility, it wept