دَعوا لي أَطِبّاءَ العِراقِ لِيَنظُروا

دَعوا لي أَطِبّاءَ العِراقِ لِيَنظُروا

سَقامي وَما يُغني الأَطِبّاءُ في الحُبِّ

سَقامي وَما يُغني الأَطِبّاءُ في الحُبِّ

They summoned Iraq’s physicians for me, to examine

They called to me the physicians of Iraq to examine

my illness—but what use are physicians in love?

My sickness, but what can physicians do about love?

أَشاروا بِريحِ المَندَلِ اللُدنِ وَالشَذا

أَشاروا بِريحِ المَندَلِ اللُدنِ وَالشَذا

وَرَدِّ ذَماءِ النَفسِ بِالبارِدِ العَذبِ

وَرَدِّ ذَماءِ النَفسِ بِالبارِدِ العَذبِ

They recommended the scent of supple aloeswood and perfume,

They prescribed the fragrance of jasmine and citron,

and restoring the soul’s last remnant of life with cold, sweet water.

And quenching the soul's thirst with cool, sweet water.

يُطيلونَ جَسَّ النابِضينِ ضَلالَةً

يُطيلونَ جَسَّ النابِضينِ ضَلالَةً

وَلَو عَلِموا جَسّوا النَوابِضَ مِن قَلبي

وَلَو عَلِموا جَسّوا النَوابِضَ مِن قَلبي

They linger over feeling the two pulses, misguided;

Yet they keep feeling my pulse in ignorance,

but if they knew, they would feel the pulses from my heart.

If only they knew, it's my heartbeats they're feeling!