مَنwho ليfor me بِأَنَّكَthat you ياO خَليfriend (first part of خليل)
مَن لي بِأَنَّكَ يا خَلي
لُfriend (final part of خليل) تَكونُwill be فيin الدُنياthis world خَليليmy friend
لُ تَكونُ في الدُنيا خَليلي
Who can assure me that you, my dear,
Who can assure me that you, O friend,
were not my beloved in this world?
will be my friend in this world?
وَصلٌunion قَبيحٌugly مِنكَfrom you أَحsweeter (first part of أحلى)
وَصلٌ قَبيحٌ مِنكَ أَح
لىsweeter (final part of أحلى) ليto me مِنَthan الصَبرِpatience الجَميلِbeautiful
لى لي مِنَ الصَبرِ الجَميلِ
An unlovely union with you is sweet—
An ugly union with you is sweeter
—er to me than beautiful patience.
to me than beautiful patience.
