يا نَظرَةً نِلتُها عَلى حَذَرِ

يا نَظرَةً نِلتُها عَلى حَذَرِ

أَوَّلُها كانَ آخِرَ النَظَرِ

أَوَّلُها كانَ آخِرَ النَظَرِ

O glance I gained with caution,

O glance I discreetly stole,

Its beginning was the end of gazing.

Its end was its beginning's goal,

إِن يَحجُبوها عَنِ العُيونِ فَقَد

إِن يَحجُبوها عَنِ العُيونِ فَقَد

حَجَبتُ عَيني لَها عَنِ البَشَرِ

حَجَبتُ عَيني لَها عَنِ البَشَرِ

If they veil her from all eyes, I have indeed

If they hide you from people's eyes,

Veiled my eye from humankind for her sake.

For you, from humans I've shut mine;

لا أَشتَكي الهَجرَ وَالفِراقَ وَلا

لا أَشتَكي الهَجرَ وَالفِراقَ وَلا

أَكُمُّ إِلّا مَعاقِدَ الأُزُرِ

أَكُمُّ إِلّا مَعاقِدَ الأُزُرِ

I complain of neither estrangement nor separation, nor

Neither separation nor leave taking I lament,

Do I conceal anything but where waistcloths are tied.

I pine only for veils tightly wrapping.