أَحلى مِنَ الإِنجازِ وَعدُ مُماطِلٍ

أَحلى مِنَ الإِنجازِ وَعدُ مُماطِلٍ

عُقِلَت بِحُسنِ وِصالِهِ آمالي

عُقِلَت بِحُسنِ وِصالِهِ آمالي

Sweeter than fulfillment is the promise of one who delays;

Sweet is the promise of the dallying lover;

My hopes are tethered by the beauty of union with him.

My hopes are swayed by the beauty of his pledge.

وَأَلَذُّ مِن أَمنِ الوِصالِ يَشوبُهُ

وَأَلَذُّ مِن أَمنِ الوِصالِ يَشوبُهُ

خَوفُ الفِراقِ تَرَقُّبُ العُذّالِ

خَوفُ الفِراقِ تَرَقُّبُ العُذّالِ

And more delightful than the security of union, which is tinged

And sweeter than the safety of union tainted

With fear of parting, is keeping watch for the reproachers.

By dread of parting and watch for the severer.