طالَ هَذا اللَيلُ بَل طالَ السَهَر

طالَ هَذا اللَيلُ بَل طالَ السَهَر

وَلَقَد أَعرِفُ لَيلي بِالقِصَر

وَلَقَد أَعرِفُ لَيلي بِالقِصَر

This night has grown long—rather, sleeplessness has grown long.

This night has been long, nay the vigil has been long

And indeed, I know my night to be short.

And I know my night to be short

لَم يَطُل حَتّى جَفاني شادِنٌ

لَم يَطُل حَتّى جَفاني شادِنٌ

ناعِمُ الأَطرافِ فَتّانُ النَظَر

ناعِمُ الأَطرافِ فَتّانُ النَظَر

It did not grow long until a young gazelle shunned me,

It did not last long until a slender one with delicate limbs and a captivating gaze weakened me

Soft of limb, bewitching to behold.

In my heart there is a grief for him

لِيَ في قَلبِيَ مِنهُ لَوعَةٌ

لِيَ في قَلبِيَ مِنهُ لَوعَةٌ

مَلَكَت قَلبي وَسَمعي وَالبَصَر

مَلَكَت قَلبي وَسَمعي وَالبَصَر

Because of him, I bear a burning anguish in my heart;

That has possessed my heart, my hearing and my sight

It has possessed my heart, my hearing, and my sight.

It is as if a figure standing there has inspired this passion

وَكَأَنَّ اَلهَمَّ شَخصٌ ماثِلٌ

وَكَأَنَّ اَلهَمَّ شَخصٌ ماثِلٌ

كُلَّما أَبصَرَهُ النَومُ نَفَر

كُلَّما أَبصَرَهُ النَومُ نَفَر

And it is as though worry were a figure standing there;

Whenever sleep sees him, it recoils

Whenever sleep sees him, it flees.