لِمَ لا يَجودُ بِهَجرِ هَجرِه

لِمَ لا يَجودُ بِهَجرِ هَجرِه

مَن ما لَهُ عُذرٌ بِعُذرِه

مَن ما لَهُ عُذرٌ بِعُذرِه

Why does he not graciously abandon his estrangement—

Why does he not show kindness in his unkindness

he whose excuse affords him no excuse?

He who has no excuse for his excuse

ريمٌ غِلالَةُ خَدِّهِ

ريمٌ غِلالَةُ خَدِّهِ

قَد طُرِّزَت بِحَريرِ شَعرِه

قَد طُرِّزَت بِحَريرِ شَعرِه

A gazelle, the gauzy veil of whose cheek

Soft are the locks of his cheek

has been embroidered with the silk of his hair.

Embroidered with the silk of his hair

شَوقي إِلَيهِ كَرِدفِهِ

شَوقي إِلَيهِ كَرِدفِهِ

وَتَصَبُّري عَنهُ كَخَصرِه

وَتَصَبُّري عَنهُ كَخَصرِه

My longing for him is like his hips,

My yearning for him is like his saddlebags

and my patience without him is like his waist.

And my estrangement from him is like his waist