ظبيa gazelle تهابfear الأسدthe lions موقفthe stance of طعنهhis thrust
ظبي تهاب الأسد موقف طعنه
آجالناour appointed deaths سكنتhave settled بمرهفin the keen blade of جفنهhis eyelid
آجالنا سكنت بمرهف جفنه
A gazelle whose striking stance the lions dread;
The gazelle fears the lion though his stance wounds
Our appointed deaths dwell in his eyelid's keen blade.
Our lifespans settled on the edge of his eyelid
سلبstole القوىstrength بصدودهthrough his rejection ونفورهand his aversion
سلب القوى بصدوده ونفوره
منwho مسعفيmy helper بوصالهthrough union with him وبأمنهand through his protection
من مسعفي بوصاله وبأمنه
He stole my strength through his rejection and aversion;
Robbing strength with his rejection and aversion
Who will bring me relief through union with him and his protection?
Of my efforts for his friendship and safety
ياO أيهاyou الرشأthe fawn الذيwho منbecause of سحرهhis magic
يا أيها الرشأ الذي من سحره
هاروتHarut اصبحbecame عاجزاhelpless فيin فنهhis art
هاروت اصبح عاجزا في فنه
O fawn, by whose magic
O you whose magic Hārūt became powerless in his craft
Harut has become helpless in his art.
Be gentle, it's the way of kings, so do not drag
الرفقgentleness منamong شيمtraits of الملوكkings فلاso do not تجرact unjustly
الرفق من شيم الملوك فلا تجر
ياO مالكاpossessor of كلall القلوبthe hearts بحسنهthrough his beauty
يا مالكا كل القلوب بحسنه
Gentleness is a trait of kings, so do not be unjust,
O owner of all hearts, with your beauty
O master of all hearts through your beauty.
Passion rules my mind, melting it
حكمruled الغرامpassion بمهجتيover my heart فأذابهاand so melted it
حكم الغرام بمهجتي فأذابها
والشوقand longing هدdemolished تصبريmy endurance منfrom ركنهits foundation
والشوق هد تصبري من ركنه
Passion ruled over my heart and melted it,
And longing weakened my patience from its pillar
And longing shattered my endurance at its foundation.
Your abandonment caused a separation between my eyelid and tears
وجفاكand your coldness فرقseparated بينbetween جفنيmy eyelid والكرىand sleep
وجفاك فرق بين جفني والكرى
وسحابand the cloud of جفنيmy eyelid صبpoured out آخرthe last of مزنهits rain-bearing clouds
وسحاب جفني صب آخر مزنه
And your coldness parted my eyelid from sleep,
And a cloud poured from my eyelid its last shower
And my eyelid's cloud poured out its last rain.
Have mercy on one lovesick for you, about
عطفاshow compassion علىon صبa lovesick lover صريعfelled by هواكlove for you إذfor
عطفا على صب صريع هواك إذ
قدindeed كادalmost يقضيdie حسرةof anguish منfrom حزنهhis grief
قد كاد يقضي حسرة من حزنه
Have compassion on a lover laid low by love for you, for
To perish from sorrow in his grief
He has all but died of anguish from his grief.
Forgive, even with a visit to cool my ardour
واسمحand grant ولوand even if only بزيارةwith a visit تطفيthat quenches الجوىburning heartache
واسمح ولو بزيارة تطفي الجوى
وتحرقand burns الواشيthe slanderer بخيبةthrough the frustration of ظنهhis expectations
وتحرق الواشي بخيبة ظنه
And grant me even a visit that quenches my burning heartache
And burn the slanderer with his ill thoughts
And scorches the slanderer by dashing his expectations.
Partial English translation: 15 of 16 Arabic lines translated.