مِن أَينَ أَنتَ وَمَن يُدريكِ أَينَ أَنا

مِن أَينَ أَنتَ وَمَن يُدريكِ أَينَ أَنا

الجِدُّ خُلقي وَمِن أَخلاقِكِ العَبَثُ

الجِدُّ خُلقي وَمِن أَخلاقِكِ العَبَثُ

Where are you from, and who tells you where I am?

From where are you, and who can tell you where I am from?

Earnestness is my nature, and frivolity is among your traits.

My nature is serious, while yours is frivolous.

ما جِئتِ مَبعوثَةً بَل جِئتِ باعِثَةً

ما جِئتِ مَبعوثَةً بَل جِئتِ باعِثَةً

هَمّي وَلا خاطِرٌ في الهَمِّ مُنبَعِثُ

هَمّي وَلا خاطِرٌ في الهَمِّ مُنبَعِثُ

You came not as one sent, but as one stirring up

You did not come sent, but rather you came stirring up trouble.

My sorrow, while no thought arises amid sorrow.

My worries and thoughts are not awakened by worry.

لَبِثتُ في الحُبِّ عُمراً لا أُحَصِّلُهُ

لَبِثتُ في الحُبِّ عُمراً لا أُحَصِّلُهُ

كَفِتيَةِ الكَهفِ لا يَدرونَ ما لَبِثوا

كَفِتيَةِ الكَهفِ لا يَدرونَ ما لَبِثوا

I have lingered in love a lifetime I cannot reckon,

I remained in love for a lifetime I cannot calculate,

Like the youths of the Cave, who do not know how long they stayed.

Like the companions of the cave, not knowing how long they remained.

كَرّوا اللَواحِظَ بَحثاً عَن مَحاسِنِهِ

كَرّوا اللَواحِظَ بَحثاً عَن مَحاسِنِهِ

وَما دَرَوا أَنَّهُم عَن حَتفِهِم بَحَثوا

وَما دَرَوا أَنَّهُم عَن حَتفِهِم بَحَثوا

They cast their glances again and again, seeking his charms,

They denigrated al-Lawzi searching for his faults,

And did not know that they were searching for their own death.

And they did not know they were searching for their own demise.