عَادَhe returned وكَمْand how often قالَhe said لاnot أَعودُI return
عَادَ وكَمْ قالَ لا أَعودُ
كأَنَّماas though وَعْدُهُhis promise وَعِيدُa threat
كأَنَّما وَعْدُهُ وَعِيدُ
He returned—though how often he had said, “I shall not return!”
He returned—and how often he had said, “I will not return.”
As though his promise were a threat.
As though his promise were a threat.
أَحسنُat the happiest moment ماwhen نحنُwe فيin وصالٍunion
أَحسنُ ما نحنُ في وصالٍ
يَعْرِضُarises ماin the space بينناbetween us الصُّدُودُestrangement
يَعْرِضُ ما بيننا الصُّدُودُ
Just when our union is at its sweetest,
Just when we are most happily united,
Estrangement comes between us.
Estrangement intrudes between us.
وكَمْand how often تَجَلَّدْتُI steeled myself لاnot لِأَنِّيbecause I
وكَمْ تَجَلَّدْتُ لا لِأَنِّي
عَلىunder عذابِthe torment of الهَوىlove جَليدُsteadfast
عَلى عذابِ الهَوى جَليدُ
How often I have steeled myself—not because
And how often I have steeled myself—not because I
I am hardened to love’s torment,
Am steadfast under love’s torment,
لكِنَّنيbut I طالِبٌseeking رِضاهُhis approval
لكِنَّني طالِبٌ رِضاهُ
وهكذاand thus تفعلُbehave العَبيدُslaves
وهكذا تفعلُ العَبيدُ
But because I seek his favor;
But because I seek his approval,
And thus do slaves behave.
And thus do slaves behave.
