ومسترقٍ للحظ لم يظهر الجوى

ومسترقٍ للحظ لم يظهر الجوى

يُريدُ يناجيني فيمنعه الخجل

يُريدُ يناجيني فيمنعه الخجل

And one who steals a glance has not revealed his love's anguish;

A fleeting moment he did not seize

He wants to speak privately to me, but shyness holds him back.

He wishes to speak to me but shyness seizes

شكوت بطرفي ما أقاسي من الهوى

شكوت بطرفي ما أقاسي من الهوى

اليه فأوما بالسلام على وجل

اليه فأوما بالسلام على وجل

With my gaze I complained of what I suffer from love

With my eyes I complained of the agony of passion

To him; then he gestured a greeting in fear.

He greeted me nervously and awkwardly

تُخبِّرني عيناه عمَّا بقلبه

تُخبِّرني عيناه عمَّا بقلبه

وقد مات من وجدٍ وليس له حيل

وقد مات من وجدٍ وليس له حيل

His eyes tell me what is in his heart,

His eyes tell me what is in his heart

And he has died of longing and has no recourse.

He is dying of love and is helpless

فعينٌ إلى وجهِ الرقيبِ لخوفه

فعينٌ إلى وجهِ الرقيبِ لخوفه

وعينٌ الى وجه الحبيب إذا غفل

وعينٌ الى وجه الحبيب إذا غفل

So one eye is on the watcher's face, for fear of him,

One eye on the watcher in fear

And one eye is on the beloved's face when the watcher is heedless.

One eye on the beloved when no one looks