خطاي إلى قبر الرسول حثيثةٌ

خطاي إلى قبر الرسول حثيثةٌ

بقلبي أمشي فرسخاً ثم فرسخا

بقلبي أمشي فرسخاً ثم فرسخا

My steps toward the Messenger’s grave hasten on;

My steps toward the Messenger's grave are swift.

with my heart I walk, league after league.

With my heart I walk, parasang after parasang.

خطمت إليه بازلي ورجلته

خطمت إليه بازلي ورجلته

وأوجرتُه بالشوق حتى تفسخا

وأوجرتُه بالشوق حتى تفسخا

I bridled my full-grown camel toward him and set it marching;

I bridled my full-grown camel to go to him, and hobbled it,

I dosed it with longing until its joints came apart.

And force-fed it longing until it fell apart.

خطرتُ على الباب الكريم بخاطر

خطرتُ على الباب الكريم بخاطر

فأوردتُه بحرَ السماحة والسخا

فأوردتُه بحرَ السماحة والسخا

I came to the noble gate with a desire in mind,

I came by the noble door with a thought,

then led it to the sea of generosity and openhandedness.

So I led it to the sea of magnanimity and generosity.

خطبتُ لديه خطبةً جلَّ خطبُها

خطبتُ لديه خطبةً جلَّ خطبُها

وأنشدت شعراً كان في السمع أرسخا

وأنشدت شعراً كان في السمع أرسخا

Before him I delivered an address of mighty import,

Before him I delivered an oration of great import,

and recited verse that took firmer hold upon the ear.

And recited verse that took deeper root in the ear.

خططتُ بكفي مدحه ونسخته

خططتُ بكفي مدحه ونسخته

ولم تنظم الأمداح إلا لتنسخا

ولم تنظم الأمداح إلا لتنسخا

With my own hand I penned his praise and copied it out;

With my hand I wrote praise of him and copied it,

for praise-songs are composed only to be copied down.

And praise-poems were composed only to be copied.

خطوبُ زماني تفسخ النولَ فعلها

خطوبُ زماني تفسخ النولَ فعلها

ولكنّه ما كان عزمي ليفسخا

ولكنّه ما كان عزمي ليفسخا

The calamities of my time undo largesse—such is their effect;

The calamities of my time undo bounty through their deeds,

yet my resolve was never one to be undone.

Yet my resolve was never to be undone.

خطيتُ وما أرجو سواهُ مُطهراً

خطيتُ وما أرجو سواهُ مُطهراً

لقلب بأدناس الذنوب توسّخا

لقلب بأدناس الذنوب توسّخا

I sinned, and hope for none but him to purify

I have sinned, and hope for no purifier but him

a heart befouled by the impurities of sins.

For a heart soiled by the stains of sins.

خطايا أخاف النار في يوم عرضها

خطايا أخاف النار في يوم عرضها

وقد سخيت شبت ومن شبَّ قد سخا

وقد سخيت شبت ومن شبَّ قد سخا

My sins—I fear the Fire on the day they are laid bare;

Sins for which I fear the Fire on the day they are displayed:

I was prodigal with them; now I am gray—for whoever is young is prodigal.

And once raked clear of ash, it blazed; whoever kindles has raked it clear.

خطاطيفُ دنيا جرّت النفس فانثنت

خطاطيفُ دنيا جرّت النفس فانثنت

إليها فظلّت في الجوانح رُسّخا

إليها فظلّت في الجوانح رُسّخا

This world’s grappling hooks dragged the soul, and it bent

The hooks of worldly life dragged the soul, and it turned

toward them; they remained rooted deep within the breast.

Toward it; they remained firmly rooted within the ribs.

خطابي لنفسي لا سواها فإنني

خطابي لنفسي لا سواها فإنني

أخاف عليها أن تُهان وتُمسخا

أخاف عليها أن تُهان وتُمسخا

My address is to my own soul, to no other, for I

My address is to my own soul, no other, for I

fear for it lest it be humiliated and deformed.

fear for it, lest it be humiliated and disfigured.