سأرثيك ما حنت حمامة أيكةٍ

سأرثيك ما حنت حمامة أيكةٍ

كأني لبيدٌ أو كأنك أربد

كأني لبيدٌ أو كأنك أربد

I shall lament you as long as a dove coos in a thicket,

I will lament you as long as a dove laments

As though I were Labid, or as though you were Arbad.

As if I were Labid or as if you were Arbad

نعتك إلى العشاق يا شبل لحية

نعتك إلى العشاق يا شبل لحية

إذا ما رآها عاشقٌ ظل ينشدُ

إذا ما رآها عاشقٌ ظل ينشدُ

A beard has announced your death to the lovers, O Shibl;

I describe you to lovers, O youth of soft down

Whenever a lover sees it, he keeps reciting:

If a lover sees her he keeps singing songs

أأطلال سعدى باللوى تتعهدُ

أأطلال سعدى باللوى تتعهدُ

اتبكي على الأيام أم تتجلدُ

اتبكي على الأيام أم تتجلدُ

“Do you revisit Su‘da’s ruins at al-Liwa?

Do you promise Sa'di's ruins in the curve of the valley

Do you weep over the days, or steel yourself?”

Do you weep over the days or show patience