لَو كانَ ما تَطلُبُهُ غايَةً

لَو كانَ ما تَطلُبُهُ غايَةً

كُنتُ المُصَلّي وَأَنا السابِقُ

كُنتُ المُصَلّي وَأَنا السابِقُ

If what you seek were a finish line,

If what you seek were the ultimate goal

I would be the runner-up, though I am the frontrunner.

I would be the first worshipper in prayer

تَظُنُّني أَرغَبُ عَن مَوقِفٍ

تَظُنُّني أَرغَبُ عَن مَوقِفٍ

يَحضُرُ فيهِ الشَوقُ وَالشائِقُ

يَحضُرُ فيهِ الشَوقُ وَالشائِقُ

You think I would turn away from a place

You think I shy from a stance

Where longing and the one who stirs it are present.

Where yearning and the yearner are present

فَكَّرتُ حَتّى لَم أَجِد فِكرَةً

فَكَّرتُ حَتّى لَم أَجِد فِكرَةً

تَقدَحُ إِلّا وَلَها عائِقُ

تَقدَحُ إِلّا وَلَها عائِقُ

I pondered until I found no thought

I pondered until I found no idea

That struck a spark without an obstacle.

That sparked except it met a barrier

لَو كُنتَ في أَثناءِ سِرّي إِذاً

لَو كُنتَ في أَثناءِ سِرّي إِذاً

عَلِمتَ أَنّي قائِلٌ صادِقُ

عَلِمتَ أَنّي قائِلٌ صادِقُ

If you were within the folds of my secret, then

If you were amidst my secret then

You would know I am a truthful speaker.

You would know I am a truthful speaker

قَلبي جَنيبٌ لَكَ لا يَرعَوي

قَلبي جَنيبٌ لَكَ لا يَرعَوي

وَوُدُّكَ القائِدُ وَالسائِقُ

وَوُدُّكَ القائِدُ وَالسائِقُ

My heart is your led horse, never turning back,

My heart is chaste for you, it does not wander

And love for you is the leader and driver.

And your love is the guide and leader

وَلَحظُ عَينَيكَ رَمى مُقلَتي

وَلَحظُ عَينَيكَ رَمى مُقلَتي

كَأَنَّ نَومي تَحتَها عاشِقُ

كَأَنَّ نَومي تَحتَها عاشِقُ

And the glance of your eyes shot at my eye,

And a glance from your eyes struck my eyelids

As though my sleep beneath it were a lover.

As if while sleeping a lover lay beneath them

فَاِصبِر فَإِنَّ الصَبرَ أَحرى إِذا

فَاِصبِر فَإِنَّ الصَبرَ أَحرى إِذا

ضاقَ عَلَيكَ المَسلَكُ الضايِقُ

ضاقَ عَلَيكَ المَسلَكُ الضايِقُ

So be patient, for patience is more fitting when

So be patient, patience is best when

The narrow path closes in on you.

The path is narrow and confined

فَالمَنطِقُ الطاهِرُ ما بَينَنا

فَالمَنطِقُ الطاهِرُ ما بَينَنا

مُتَرجِمٌ وَالنَظَرُ الفاسِقُ

مُتَرجِمٌ وَالنَظَرُ الفاسِقُ

For chaste speech between us

For between us the pure word

Is an interpreter—and so is the wanton gaze.

Is a translator, and the gaze a debaucher