خَبَرتُI experienced الهَوىlove حَتّىuntil عَرَفتُI knew أُمورَهُits ways
خَبَرتُ الهَوى حَتّى عَرَفتُ أُمورَهُ
وَجَرَّبتُهُand I tested it فيin السِرِsecrecy مِنهُof it وَفيand in الجَهرِthe open
وَجَرَّبتُهُ في السِرِ مِنهُ وَفي الجَهرِ
I experienced love until I knew its ways.
I have experienced passion until I understood its ways
And I tested it in its secrecy and in the open.
And I have tried it, secretly and openly
فَلاso neither البُعدُdistance يُسلينيconsoles me وَلاnor القُربُnearness نافِعيbeneficial to me
فَلا البُعدُ يُسليني وَلا القُربُ نافِعي
وَفيand in الطَمَعِhope الأَدواءُailments وَاليَأسُand despair لاdoes not يُبريheal
وَفي الطَمَعِ الأَدواءُ وَاليَأسُ لا يُبري
So neither distance consoles me nor nearness helps me.
So neither distance consoles me, nor nearness benefits me
And in hope lie ailments, and despair does not heal.
In hope there is sickness, and in despair there is no cure