1. توليتُ عنها طاعة حيثُ ملّت

    فيا ليتَ شعري بعدنا هل تولّتْ

    I turned away from her in obedience, when she grew weary.

    Oh, would that I knew: after our departure, did she turn away?

  2. تأملت خلفي هل أرى رسم دارها

    فقالت ظنوني لا تخفْ ما تخلّتْ

    I gazed behind me: could I see the trace of her dwelling?

    Then my conjectures said, "Do not fear; she has not withdrawn."

  3. تمتْ إلينا وهي تهجر ذاتنا

    فأفنى وجودي عينها فاستقلَّت

    She is linked to us, while she forsakes our essence.

    So her essence annihilated my existence, and she stood alone.

  4. تغافلتُ عنها مذ علمت بأنها

    إذا بنتُ عنها أنها وجه قبلتي

    I feigned unawareness of her, since I knew that she—

    whenever I part from her—is the direction I face in prayer.

  5. تعجبتُ مني ثم منها لعلمها

    وجهلي لما ضللتُ وضلت

    I marveled at myself, then at her, because of her knowledge

    and my ignorance, when I strayed and she strayed.

  6. ترى ليت شعري هل ترى العلم حيرة

    وبالجهلِ عزّت ثم بالعلم ذلَّت

    I wonder—would that I knew—does she regard knowledge as bewilderment?

    And through ignorance she was exalted, then through knowledge humbled.

  7. تخاطبها مني سرائر ذاتها

    فما أنا منها غيرها حيثُ حلّت

    From within me, the secrets of her essence address her.

    For I am of her, none other than she, wherever she dwells.

  8. تولت وما بانتْ وما مشت

    لأني معلول لها وهي علتي

    She turned away, yet did not depart, nor did she walk.

    For I am her effect, and she is my cause.

  9. توهمت فيها حين قلتُ بأنها

    هي الشرط في كوني وكان لغفلتي

    I was deluded about her when I said that she

    was the condition of my existence; that was due to my heedlessness.

  10. تعاليتِ يا ذاتي فما ثَمَّ غيرنا

    وما هي عيني فاعلموا أصلَ حيرتي

    Exalted are you, O my essence; there is none but us.

    Yet she is not my very self—so know the root of my bewilderment.