إِنif سَوَّدَhas blackened وَجهَthe face of حاليَmy condition الهجرانُseparation
إِن سَوَّدَ وَجهَ حاليَ الهجرانُ
أَوor بَيَّضَhas whitened مِنّيof me اللمَمَlocks of hair الأَحزانُsorrows
أَو بَيَّضَ مِنّي اللمَمَ الأَحزانُ
If separation has blackened the face of my condition,
If parting darkened the face of my state
Or sorrows have whitened my locks,
Or griefs whitened my blameworthy self
واِحمَرَّand has turned red عَلىupon صُفرَةِthe yellowness of خَدّيmy cheek دَمعيmy tears
واِحمَرَّ عَلى صُفرَةِ خَدّي دَمعي
فالحُبُّthen love لعمريby my life مِحَنٌtrials أَلوانُcolors
فالحُبُّ لعمري مِحَنٌ أَلوانُ
And my tears have turned red upon my yellow cheek,
And my tears reddened my pale cheek
Then love, by my life, is trials of many colors.
Then love, by my life, has various tribulations