ما حَلَّ هَذا الهَوى إِلّا لِأَرتَحِلا

ما حَلَّ هَذا الهَوى إِلّا لِأَرتَحِلا

وَلا سَرى الدَمعُ إِلّا عَن هَوىً نَزَلا

وَلا سَرى الدَمعُ إِلّا عَن هَوىً نَزَلا

This love settled only so that I might depart.

My passion spreads its wings only to travel

Nor did tears flow except from a love that had alighted.

My tears flow only for a love that's bound to fail

وَلا أَطَعتُكُمُ وَالحُبُّ يَشهَدُ لي

وَلا أَطَعتُكُمُ وَالحُبُّ يَشهَدُ لي

إِلّا وَعَزمِيَ أَن أَعصي الَّذي عَذَلا

إِلّا وَعَزمِيَ أَن أَعصي الَّذي عَذَلا

Nor did I obey you—and love bears witness for me—

I obeyed you though love attests I did rebel

Except with my resolve set on defying the one who reproached me.

Only to show my will to disobey one who impales

وَلا بَعَثتُ خُيولَ الدَمعِ خَلفَكُمُ

وَلا بَعَثتُ خُيولَ الدَمعِ خَلفَكُمُ

إِلّا لِتَلحَقَ قَلباً فيكُمُ رَحَلا

إِلّا لِتَلحَقَ قَلباً فيكُمُ رَحَلا

Nor did I send the steeds of tears after you

I sent forth the steeds of tears after your caravan

Except to overtake a heart that had departed with you.

That they may find a heart among you that keels

يا رَبعُ ما أَنتَ إِذ زُمَّت رِحالُهُمُ

يا رَبعُ ما أَنتَ إِذ زُمَّت رِحالُهُمُ

لِلبَينِ أَوَّلُ صَبٍّ أَلبَسوهُ بِلى

لِلبَينِ أَوَّلُ صَبٍّ أَلبَسوهُ بِلى

O dwelling, you were not—when their saddles were fastened

Oh how you were, o dwellings, when their luggage was packed

For parting—the first lovelorn one they clothed in decay.

For separation, donning their first morning sorrows

لَقَد تَمَثَّلتَ في تَركِ الجَوابِ بِهِم

لَقَد تَمَثَّلتَ في تَركِ الجَوابِ بِهِم

فَما تُجيبُ كَما كانوا لِمَن سَأَلا

فَما تُجيبُ كَما كانوا لِمَن سَأَلا

You have indeed imitated them in withholding a reply;

You embodied the silence in response to them

So you give no answer, just as they gave none to anyone who asked.

So you answer not anymore those who implore

وَقَفتُ فيهِ فَقالَ الناسُ مِن سَقَمي

وَقَفتُ فيهِ فَقالَ الناسُ مِن سَقَمي

أَما تَرى طَلَلا يَستَخبِرُ الطَلَلا

أَما تَرى طَلَلا يَستَخبِرُ الطَلَلا

I stood there, and because of my illness the people said:

I stood amongst ruins; people said of my sickness

"Do you not see a ruin seeking news from the ruin?"

Can't you see a ruin asking another ruin's tale