1. يا خَليلَيَّ لا تُطيلا سُؤالي

    سِرُّ مِثلي في الحُبِّ لا يُبديهِ

    O my two friends, do not prolong your questioning of me.

    One like me does not reveal his secret in love.

  2. سائِلا القَلبَ إِن قَدرتُم عَلى أَن

    تَسأَلاهُ عَنِ اِسمِ من حَلَّ فيهِ

    Question the heart, if you are able to

    Ask it about the name of the one who has settled within it.

  3. هُوَ في الناسِ ظاهِرٌ غَيرَ حَرفٍ

    واحِدٍ في هِجائِهِ يُخفيهِ

    He is plain to see among people, but a letter—

    A single one in his spelling—conceals him.

  4. وَإِذا نُقطَةٌ نَفَت أُختَها عَنهُ

    فَكُلٌّ بِجُهدِهِ يَتَّقيهِ

    And when a dot has banished its sister from him,

    Then everyone does his utmost to avoid him.