جاءَت تُوَدِّعُني وَالدَمعُ يَغلُبُها

جاءَت تُوَدِّعُني وَالدَمعُ يَغلُبُها

عِندَ الرَحيلِ وَحادي البَينِ مُنصَلِتُ

عِندَ الرَحيلِ وَحادي البَينِ مُنصَلِتُ

She came to bid me farewell, while tears overwhelmed her,

She came to bid me farewell, overcome with tears

At departure, as separation's camel-driver hurried on.

At the time of departure, while the camel driver was hurrying us

وَأَقبَلَت وَهيَ في خَوفٍ وَفي دَهشٍ

وَأَقبَلَت وَهيَ في خَوفٍ وَفي دَهشٍ

مِثلَ الغَزالِ مِنَ الأَشراكِ يَنفَلِتُ

مِثلَ الغَزالِ مِنَ الأَشراكِ يَنفَلِتُ

And she approached in fear and bewilderment,

She approached, fearful and startled

Like a gazelle breaking free of snares.

Like a gazelle escaping the hunters' traps

فَلَم تُطِق خيفَةَ الواشي تُوَدِّعُني

فَلَم تُطِق خيفَةَ الواشي تُوَدِّعُني

وَيحَ الوُشاةِ لَقَد لاموا وَقَد شَمَتوا

وَيحَ الوُشاةِ لَقَد لاموا وَقَد شَمَتوا

So, fearing the slanderer, she could not bid me farewell.

She could not bear to bid me farewell in secret

Woe to the slanderers! They have indeed reproached and gloated.

While the guards mocked and gloated

وَقَفتُ أَبكي وَراحَت وَهيَ باكِيَةٌ

وَقَفتُ أَبكي وَراحَت وَهيَ باكِيَةٌ

تَسيرُ عَنّي قَليلاً ثُمَّ تَلتَفِتُ

تَسيرُ عَنّي قَليلاً ثُمَّ تَلتَفِتُ

I stood weeping, and she departed in tears,

I stood weeping as she walked away crying

Walking a little way from me, then turning to look back.

Going from me a short distance, then turning to look back

فَيا فُؤادِيَ كَم وَجدٍ وَكَم حَزَنٍ

فَيا فُؤادِيَ كَم وَجدٍ وَكَم حَزَنٍ

وَيا زَمانِيَ ذا جَورٌ وَذا عَنَتُ

وَيا زَمانِيَ ذا جَورٌ وَذا عَنَتُ

So, O my heart, how much longing and how much sorrow!

Oh my heart, such passion and sorrow!

And O my time, this is injustice, and this is hardship!

Oh my time, so cruel and tyrant-like!