لَحَا اللهُ وَرْقاً هَيَّجَتْني بِشَجْوِها

لَحَا اللهُ وَرْقاً هَيَّجَتْني بِشَجْوِها

وفضَّتْ خِتامَ الصبرِ مُذْ يوم غَنَّتِ

وفضَّتْ خِتامَ الصبرِ مُذْ يوم غَنَّتِ

May God curse the gray doves that stirred me with their plaintive song,

God has blessed a leaf that stirred me with its yearning,

and have broken patience's seal since the day they sang

And broke the seal of patience since the day it sang

على فَنَنِ البَانَاتِ من أيْمَن الحِمى

على فَنَنِ البَانَاتِ من أيْمَن الحِمى

فَقُلْتُ لها كُفِّي فَرِفْقَاً بمُهْجَتي

فَقُلْتُ لها كُفِّي فَرِفْقَاً بمُهْجَتي

on a bough of the bān trees, on the sanctuary's right side.

Of the melodies of the charming girls of the protected tribe,

So I said to them, 'Be still, and have mercy on my heart.'

So I said to her, "Stop, gently, for the sake of my infatuation,

لَعَلَّ أصَيْحابي يَرِقُّوا ويَسْمَحُوا

لَعَلَّ أصَيْحابي يَرِقُّوا ويَسْمَحُوا

على كَلَفي بَعْدَ الفِرَاقِ بِرَجعةِ

على كَلَفي بَعْدَ الفِرَاقِ بِرَجعةِ

Perhaps my dear companions will relent and grant,

Perhaps my companions may show mercy and forgive

in pity for my longing after parting, a return.

My affliction after parting with a return

فتى سَعِيدٍ أتَتْني مِنْكَ أبياتُ

فتى سَعِيدٍ أتَتْني مِنْكَ أبياتُ

تَجمَّعَتْ في حَوَاشيهَا العباراتُ

تَجمَّعَتْ في حَوَاشيهَا العباراتُ

O youth of Saʿīd, verses have come to me from you;

Of a happy youth." Verses came to me from you

phrases have gathered in their margins.

Whose eloquent words were gathered in the margins.

سُطُورُها نُمْنِمَتْ كأنَّها دُرَرٌ

سُطُورُها نُمْنِمَتْ كأنَّها دُرَرٌ

تَلُوحُ لي أو عُقُودٌ لُؤْلُؤياتُ

تَلُوحُ لي أو عُقُودٌ لُؤْلُؤياتُ

Their lines were finely embellished, as though they were pearls

Its lines were decorated as if they were pearls

gleaming before me, or necklaces of pearls.

That shine before me, or pearl necklaces

في أربةٍ نَطَقَتْ لوْ كُنْتُ مُكتَفِلاً

في أربةٍ نَطَقَتْ لوْ كُنْتُ مُكتَفِلاً

عَنْها لِتُطربَني بالبذلِ رَغْبَاتُ

عَنْها لِتُطربَني بالبذلِ رَغْبَاتُ

They spoke of a need; if I could take responsibility

In a soft voice that spoke. If I was dependent

for it, wishes would gladden me through giving.

On it, it would delight me with generous wishes,

وسَلْ سَلِيلَ سَلام فَهْوَ مُخْتَبِرٌ

وسَلْ سَلِيلَ سَلام فَهْوَ مُخْتَبِرٌ

فيما ترومُ فَهَلْ عَنْهُ غُنَيّاتِ

فيما ترومُ فَهَلْ عَنْهُ غُنَيّاتِ

And ask Salām's descendant, for he is experienced

And ask the questioner greetings. He is examining

in what you seek—can you do without him?

What you intend. Are there any songs about it?

واعذُرْ محِبَّكَ يا ذا المَكْرُماتِ لكي

واعذُرْ محِبَّكَ يا ذا المَكْرُماتِ لكي

تَخْفِقْنَ في مَجْدِكَ المُبْيَض راياتُ

تَخْفِقْنَ في مَجْدِكَ المُبْيَض راياتُ

And pardon the one who loves you, O man of noble deeds, so that

Excuse your loving one, O you of generous traits, so that

banners may flutter in your bright-white glory.

The flags of your pure glory may flutter.