إَليكَ عَلى البِعادِ مِثالُ صَبٍّ

إَليكَ عَلى البِعادِ مِثالُ صَبٍّ

أَكلِّفُهُ التّحيَّةَ وَالسُّؤالا

أَكلِّفُهُ التّحيَّةَ وَالسُّؤالا

To you, despite the distance, a lovesick lover’s likeness—

To you from afar an image of yearning

I charge it with a greeting and inquiry.

I task with greetings and questions

لَئِن لَم تَلقَ مِنهُ سِوى خَيالٍ

لَئِن لَم تَلقَ مِنهُ سِوى خَيالٍ

فَإِنِّي صِرتُ بَعدَكُمُ خَيالا

فَإِنِّي صِرتُ بَعدَكُمُ خَيالا

If you find in it nothing but a phantom,

If you find naught from him but a phantom

For I have become a phantom in your absence.

Then after you all I'm left a phantom