أفديكِ أيتها الدِمَنْ

أفديكِ أيتها الدِمَنْ

رَكْبُ الحبيبِ متى ظعنْ

رَكْبُ الحبيبِ متى ظعنْ

I would give my life for you, O ruined dwelling-sites!

I ransom you, O familiar abode

When did the beloved's caravan depart?

When will the loved one's caravan pass by?

ظعنوا بظبيٍ ساكنٍ

ظعنوا بظبيٍ ساكنٍ

قلبي وقلبي ما سكنْ

قلبي وقلبي ما سكنْ

They departed with a gazelle dwelling in

They passed by with a resting gazelle,

my heart—yet my heart has found no rest.

Yet my heart and heart would not be still.

ولقدْ عهدتك مَلْعَباً

ولقدْ عهدتك مَلْعَباً

للغيدِ والرشأِ الأَغنْ

للغيدِ والرشأِ الأَغنْ

And indeed, I once knew you as a playground

I knew you as a playground

for graceful maidens and the soft-voiced fawn.

For the smooth and delicate branch.

يا لائمي في حبِّهِ

يا لائمي في حبِّهِ

أيكونُ ما وتلومُ مَنْ

أيكونُ ما وتلومُ مَنْ

O you who blame me for loving him,

Oh you who blame me for loving him

Can it be a 'what,' while you blame a 'who'?

Can there be what you blame and who you blame?