فَإِنso if يَحجِبوهاthey keep her hidden أَوor يَحُلintervenes دونَin the way of وَصلِهاunion with her
فَإِن يَحجِبوها أَو يَحُل دونَ وَصلِها
مَقالَةُwords واشٍa slanderer أَوor وَعيدُa threat أَميرِa ruler
مَقالَةُ واشٍ أَو وَعيدُ أَميرِ
Though they hide her, or there stands between me and union with her
So if they keep her hidden, or union with her is barred by
a slanderer’s word or a prince’s threat,
A slanderer's words or a ruler's threat,
فَلَنthen will not يَمنَعواthey prevent عَينَيَّmy two eyes مِنfrom دائِمِceaseless البُكاweeping
فَلَن يَمنَعوا عَينَيَّ مِن دائِمِ البُكا
وَلَنand will not يُخرِجواthey drive out ماwhat قَدalready أُجَنَّconcealed ضَميريmy innermost heart
وَلَن يُخرِجوا ما قَد أُجَنَّ ضَميري
they shall never keep my eyes from ceaseless weeping,
Then they will not keep my eyes from ceaseless weeping,
nor bring to light what my heart has kept concealed.
Nor will they drive out what my heart has concealed.
وَماand not بَرِحَceased الواشونَthe slanderers حَتّىuntil بَدَتbecame visible لَناto us
وَما بَرِحَ الواشونَ حَتّى بَدَت لَنا
بُطونُinner sides الهَوىlove مَقلوبَةًturned over لِظُهورِinto outer sides
بُطونُ الهَوى مَقلوبَةً لِظُهورِ
The tale-bearers never ceased until there appeared to us
And the slanderers did not relent until we saw
love’s hidden bellies, turned outward into backs.
Love's inner sides turned outward.
إِلىto اللَهِGod أَشكوI complain ماwhat أُلاقيI endure مِنَof الجَوىburning heartache
إِلى اللَهِ أَشكو ما أُلاقي مِنَ الجَوى
وَمِنand of نَفَسٍa breath يَعتادُنيrepeatedly visits me وَزَفيرِand deep sighing
وَمِن نَفَسٍ يَعتادُني وَزَفيرِ
To God I lament the consuming anguish I endure,
To God I complain of the burning heartache I endure,
and each breath that keeps assailing me, and every sigh.
And of a breath that keeps returning to me, and deep sighing.
