ما لي أَرى المَرءَ اللَعينَ قَدِ اِختَفى

ما لي أَرى المَرءَ اللَعينَ قَدِ اِختَفى

هذي جِناياتُ الأُيودِ عَلى القَفا

هذي جِناياتُ الأُيودِ عَلى القَفا

Why do I find that the accursed man has gone into hiding?

Why I see the accursed man has disappeared

These are the injuries hands have inflicted upon the nape.

These are the crimes of love upon the skull

وَسمَت تَواسيمُ الحَبيبِ جَبينَهُ

وَسمَت تَواسيمُ الحَبيبِ جَبينَهُ

وَالصَفعُ خَيرٌ لِلمُحِبِّ مِنَ الجَفا

وَالصَفعُ خَيرٌ لِلمُحِبِّ مِنَ الجَفا

The beloved’s imprints have branded his forehead.

And the beloved's marks have marked his forehead

And slaps are better for the lover than coldness.

And a slap is better for the lover than indifference

عَبَثَت بِهامَتِهِ النعالُ فَما اِنثَنَت

عَبَثَت بِهامَتِهِ النعالُ فَما اِنثَنَت

حَتّى اِنثَنى مِن وَقعِهِنَّ عَلى شَفا

حَتّى اِنثَنى مِن وَقعِهِنَّ عَلى شَفا

The sandals toyed with his head and did not relent,

His slippers danced on his pride but did not bend

Until he doubled over from their blows, on the brink.

Until he bent from their blow upon his lip

فَغَدا يُكَتِّمُ أَمرَهُ وَمُصابَهُ

فَغَدا يُكَتِّمُ أَمرَهُ وَمُصابَهُ

طَمَعاً بِأَن يَخفى وَقَد بَرِحَ الخَفا

طَمَعاً بِأَن يَخفى وَقَد بَرِحَ الخَفا

So he began concealing his affair and his affliction,

So he went to hide his affair and his injury

Hoping it might stay hidden, though concealment had vanished.

Hoping it would be hidden but secrecy has fled

هَيهاتَ أَن يَخفى مُصابُكَ بَعدَما

هَيهاتَ أَن يَخفى مُصابُكَ بَعدَما

خَطَّ المَداسُ عَلى جَبينِكَ أَحرُفا

خَطَّ المَداسُ عَلى جَبينِكَ أَحرُفا

There is no hiding your affliction, now that

Alas, your injury cannot be hidden after

The shoe has inscribed letters on your forehead.

The stylus has etched letters on your brow