ألا ليتَ شِعْرِى والأَماني تَعلُّلٌ

ألا ليتَ شِعْرِى والأَماني تَعلُّلٌ

وللقلبِ فيها راحةٌ وسُكونُ

وللقلبِ فيها راحةٌ وسُكونُ

Ah, would that I knew—though wishes are a consolation,

Ah, would that I knew—wishes are a solace,

and in them the heart finds comfort and repose—

and in them the heart finds comfort and repose—

أَيُقْضَي لنفسٍ غالَها الشوقُ حاجةٌ

أَيُقْضَي لنفسٍ غالَها الشوقُ حاجةٌ

ويسمحُ دهرٌ بالوصال ضَنين

ويسمحُ دهرٌ بالوصال ضَنين

will a soul ravaged by longing have its need fulfilled,

whether a soul ravaged by longing will have its need fulfilled,

and will miserly Time permit reunion,

and whether miserly time will grant reunion,

فتَرجِعَ أيام مَضَيْن كأنما

فتَرجِعَ أيام مَضَيْن كأنما

يُعاودني من ذكرِهنَّ جنون

يُعاودني من ذكرِهنَّ جنون

so that days long past might return, as though

so that days gone by may return, as though

at their remembrance madness came over me anew?

madness returns to me when I recall them.

وهل تجمعُ الأَيامُ شملى بشادنٍ

وهل تجمعُ الأَيامُ شملى بشادنٍ

رَحلتُ وقلبي في يديه رَهين

رَحلتُ وقلبي في يديه رَهين

And will the days reunite me with a young gazelle?

And will the days reunite me with a gazelle-fawn,

I departed, while my heart remained hostage in his hands—

whom I left, my heart captive in his hands?

مريضُ جُفونِ الطَّرْفِ لولا جفونُه

مريضُ جُفونِ الطَّرْفِ لولا جفونُه

لما كنتُ أدري السُّقْم كيف يكون

لما كنتُ أدري السُّقْم كيف يكون

his gazing lids languid; had it not been for those lids,

His eyes have languid lids; were it not for his eyelids,

I would never have known what sickness was.

I would not know what sickness is like.