ذَكَرت مَقامي لَيلَة البابِ قابِضاً

ذَكَرت مَقامي لَيلَة البابِ قابِضاً

عَلى كَف حَوراءِ المَدامِع كَالبَدر

عَلى كَف حَوراءِ المَدامِع كَالبَدر

I recalled how I stood at the gate that night, clasping

I recalled my vigil at the door one night,

the hand of a dark-eyed woman, like the full moon.

Grasping the hand of a moon-faced maiden, her tears flowing like a full moon.

وَكِدت وَلَم املِك اِلَيكَ صَبابَه

وَكِدت وَلَم املِك اِلَيكَ صَبابَه

اِطيرُ وَفاضَ الدَمعُ مِنّي عَلى النَحر

اِطيرُ وَفاضَ الدَمعُ مِنّي عَلى النَحر

And I nearly—unable to restrain my yearning for you—

I almost leaned towards you but held back,

flew, and tears poured from me onto my breast.

My tears streamed down my chest.

اجودُ عَلَيها بِالحَديثِ وَتارَة

اجودُ عَلَيها بِالحَديثِ وَتارَة

تَجودُ عَلَينا بِالرِضابِ من الثَغَر

تَجودُ عَلَينا بِالرِضابِ من الثَغَر

I lavish conversation upon her, and at times

I converse with her, and at times,

she lavishes upon us sweet saliva from her mouth.

She smiles at me, her mouth radiant like a blossom.

فَلَيتَ الهي قَد قَضى ذاكَ مرة

فَلَيتَ الهي قَد قَضى ذاكَ مرة

فَيَعلَم رَبّي عِندَ ذلَِ ما شكري

فَيَعلَم رَبّي عِندَ ذلَِ ما شكري

If only my God had decreed that once,

If only, my God, that moment would last,

then my Lord would know how grateful I would be.

So my Lord may know, in that instant, my gratitude.