الحِبُّthe beloved سَخاwas generous وَطَرفُand the gaze أَعدائِيَof my enemies خَساwas abashed
الحِبُّ سَخا وَطَرفُ أَعدائِيَ خَسا
مِنfrom حَيثُwhere سَرىtraveled by night وَالنَجمُand the star فيin الغَربِthe west رَساcame to rest
مِن حَيثُ سَرى وَالنَجمُ في الغَربِ رَسا
The beloved was generous, and my enemies’ gaze was abashed.
Love was generous and the eyes of my enemies were mean,
For he traveled by night, while the star came to rest in the west.
When it set out from where it rises, and the star anchored in the west,
لِلوَصلِfor union سَعىstrove وَطالَماand how often قُلتُI said عَسىperhaps
لِلوَصلِ سَعى وَطالَما قُلتُ عَسى
وَالريقُand the saliva سَقىgave drink مِنfrom بَعدِafter ماthat كانَwas قَساwas harsh
وَالريقُ سَقى مِن بَعدِ ما كانَ قَسا
He strove for union, and how often I had said, “Perhaps!”
It strove for union, and I often said: perhaps!
And his saliva gave me drink after he had been harsh.
And tears irrigated after what had been harsh.