يَا طِفْلةً زَارَتْ كَطَيْفٍ عَابِرٍ

يَا طِفْلةً زَارَتْ كَطَيْفٍ عَابِرٍ

سَحْراً وَكَانَ فِرَاقُهَا مُتَوَقَّعا

سَحْراً وَكَانَ فِرَاقُهَا مُتَوَقَّعا

O little girl who visited like a passing phantom

O a girl who visited like a fleeting specter

Before dawn—and her departure was expected.

Enchantingly, and her departure was expected

مَا أَعْجَلَ الأَقْدَارُ فِي اسْتِرْدَادِهَا

مَا أَعْجَلَ الأَقْدَارُ فِي اسْتِرْدَادِهَا

بَعْدَ السَّماحِ نَفْيَهَا المُسْتَوْدَعَا

بَعْدَ السَّماحِ نَفْيَهَا المُسْتَوْدَعَا

How swift the fates were to reclaim her,

How soon the fates reclaimed her

After permitting her exile, held in trust.

After allowing her stay, banishing the repository

رُوحٌ مِنَ اللُّطْفِ الْخَفِيِّ أَقَامَ فِي

رُوحٌ مِنَ اللُّطْفِ الْخَفِيِّ أَقَامَ فِي

قَلْبٍ كَسِيرٍ بُرْهَةً وَتَنَوَّعَا

قَلْبٍ كَسِيرٍ بُرْهَةً وَتَنَوَّعَا

A spirit of hidden grace dwelt in

A spirit of subtle charm resided

A broken heart awhile and took on many forms.

In a broken heart for a while and became diverse

كَالطِّيبِ فِي قَارُورَةٍ مَصْدُوعَةٍ

كَالطِّيبِ فِي قَارُورَةٍ مَصْدُوعَةٍ

أَلْفَى سَبِيلاً لِلْعُلَى فَتَضَوَّعَا

أَلْفَى سَبِيلاً لِلْعُلَى فَتَضَوَّعَا

Like perfume in a cracked vial,

Like perfume in a cracked bottle

It found a path to the heights and so spread its fragrance.

It found a way to the height and leaked out