وصل الكتابُ فكدتُ من فرجٍ به

وصل الكتابُ فكدتُ من فرجٍ به

أوهِى يمينَ رسوله تَقْبيلا

أوهِى يمينَ رسوله تَقْبيلا

The letter arrived, and in my relief at it I nearly

The book arrived, and I nearly died of joy

wore out its messenger's right hand with kisses.

Kissing the hand of its messenger

فكأنني ظمآن ضَلَّ بقَفْزةٍ

فكأنني ظمآن ضَلَّ بقَفْزةٍ

حتى انتهى يأسا أصاب النيلا

حتى انتهى يأسا أصاب النيلا

It was as though I were a thirsty man lost in a wilderness,

As if I were a thirsty man who stumbled

until, at the limit of despair, he found the Nile.

Upon a spring, and my despair was quenched

وأظنُّ مولاي اقْتَدَى بمقالِ مَنْ

وأظنُّ مولاي اقْتَدَى بمقالِ مَنْ

نَظم القريضَ وأَغْرَب التأويلا

نَظم القريضَ وأَغْرَب التأويلا

And I think my lord took his cue from the words of one

And I think my Master was inspired by the words

who composed verse and offered an unusual interpretation:

Of one who composed verse and far-fetched interpretation

لولا طِرادُ الخيلِ لم تك لذةٌ

لولا طِرادُ الخيلِ لم تك لذةٌ

فَتطارَدِي لي بالوصالِ قليلا

فَتطارَدِي لي بالوصالِ قليلا

Without the chase of horses, there would be no pleasure;

If horses were not yoked for the chase

so play a little game of chase with me over reunion.

There would be no joy in attaining the beloved after pursuit

لا زلتَ تتخذ السعادةَ صاحبا

لا زلتَ تتخذ السعادةَ صاحبا

والعزَّ دارا والبقاءَ خليلا

والعزَّ دارا والبقاءَ خليلا

May you always take happiness as a companion,

You have always taken happiness as a companion

glory as a dwelling, and long life as a close friend.

And glory as your home, and eternity as a friend

تُثْنِى بما أُثِنى عليك صحائفٌ

تُثْنِى بما أُثِنى عليك صحائفٌ

تُتْلَى بألسنةِ الورى تَرْتيلا

تُتْلَى بألسنةِ الورى تَرْتيلا

Pages praise you with the praise I offer you,

You are praised in pages

recited in measured tones by the tongues of humankind.

That are recited in the tongues of people chanting