سُلَيمي وَإِن لَم أَقضِ مِنها مَآرِباً

سُلَيمي وَإِن لَم أَقضِ مِنها مَآرِباً

أَعَزَّ عَلى قَلبي خَليلاً وَصاحِبا

أَعَزَّ عَلى قَلبي خَليلاً وَصاحِبا

Sulayma, though I have not obtained from her what I desire,

My Salma, though she has not fulfilled my hopes,

Is dearest to my heart as a friend and companion,

Is dearer to my heart, a friend and companion.

وَاِنفَعُ لي مِن بارِدِ الماءِ غِلَّةً

وَاِنفَعُ لي مِن بارِدِ الماءِ غِلَّةً

وَأَشهى مِنَ الدُنيا لِقَلبي مَواهِبا

وَأَشهى مِنَ الدُنيا لِقَلبي مَواهِبا

And more soothing to my burning thirst than cool water,

More refreshing than cool water in summer heat,

And, in her gifts, more desirable to my heart than the world.

More craved than worldly gifts cherished in my heart.

أَخافُ عَلَيها مِن عُيونِ وُشاتِها

أَخافُ عَلَيها مِن عُيونِ وُشاتِها

وَآخُذُ عَنها حينَ تَقبَلُ جانِبا

وَآخُذُ عَنها حينَ تَقبَلُ جانِبا

I fear for her because of her slanderers' eyes,

I fear for her from the eyes of slanderers,

And keep my distance from her when she approaches.

And avoid her when she turns her face askance.

وَبي شَغَفٌ لا يَبرَحُ الدَهرَ قائِداً

وَبي شَغَفٌ لا يَبرَحُ الدَهرَ قائِداً

زَمامي إِلَيها بالصَبابَةِ جانِبا

زَمامي إِلَيها بالصَبابَةِ جانِبا

And within me is a passion that never, through all time, ceases to lead

An endless passion leads my steps to her,

My reins toward her, drawing them along with ardent longing.

Drawing me by her cheek’s soft dunes.

أُعاتِبُ سَلمى بِالقَطيعَةِ وَالجَفا

أُعاتِبُ سَلمى بِالقَطيعَةِ وَالجَفا

أَعيذُكَ أَن تَهدي إِلَيها مُعاتِبا

أَعيذُكَ أَن تَهدي إِلَيها مُعاتِبا

I reproach Salma for estrangement and coldness;

I chide Salma for estrangement and disdain—

I seek protection for you lest you send her a reproacher.

God forbid that you should chide her for the same!

وَأُقسِمُ لَو اَنَّ المَنايا بِكَفِّها

وَأُقسِمُ لَو اَنَّ المَنايا بِكَفِّها

كُؤسٌ وَأَسقاها لَطابَت مَشارِبا

كُؤسٌ وَأَسقاها لَطابَت مَشارِبا

And I swear: if death in her palm were

I swear, if Death held in its hand the cup,

Cups, and I were given them to drink, they would be sweet draughts.

And offered it to me, I would accept the draught.

أَأَطلُبُ مِن سَلمى بَديلاً وَاِبتَغى

أَأَطلُبُ مِن سَلمى بَديلاً وَاِبتَغى

سُلُوّاً أَلا لانِلتُ قَصدي طالِبا

سُلُوّاً أَلا لانِلتُ قَصدي طالِبا

Should I seek a replacement for Salma, and seek

Shall I seek a substitute for Salma or try

Forgetfulness? Ah, may I never attain the goal I seek!

To attain my quest? Never, though long I sought!