1. لماذا أسلم للبحر أمري

    و أمنح للريح أيام عمري

    Why do I surrender my affairs to the sea

    And give the wind the days of my life?

  2. و هل للبحار سوى العاصفات

    تروح بلؤم و تغدو بغدر

    And have the seas anything but storms

    That go out with malice at evening and with treachery at morning?

  3. و كيف أصادق في الصبح مداً

    و في الليل أمنح ودي بجزر

    And how can I befriend a flood tide in the morning

    And at night give my affection at ebb tide?

  4. تعبت من البحر لكن قلبي

    يصر على البعد بؤس بري

    I have grown weary of the sea, but my heart

    Insists on distance—my land is wretched.

  5. تعالى حبيبي فما فات مات

    و ما هو آت جميل كصبري

    Come, my beloved, for what has passed is dead,

    And what is to come is as beautiful as my patience.

  6. أمدها أليك يدي لاشتياقي

    و دمع عيني من العين يجدي

    I stretch out my hand to you out of longing,

    And the tears of my eye, shed from it, are of use.

  7. تناديك روحي و تزف جروحي

    و قرع فؤادي على باب صدري

    My soul calls to you and bears my wounds in procession,

    And my heart's knocking at the door of my chest.

  8. فلا تتجاهل ندائي حبيبي

    فإنك تعلم ما بي و تدري

    So do not ignore my call, my beloved,

    For you know what ails me, and you understand.