وفي النّفرِ الغادين وجهٌ أُحبّه

وفي النّفرِ الغادين وجهٌ أُحبّه

وما كلّ وَجهٍ في الرِّفاق حبيبُ

وما كلّ وَجهٍ في الرِّفاق حبيبُ

And among those setting out at dawn is a face I love.

Among the travelers who went their way

And not every face among the companions is beloved.

Was a face I loved, though not all who pass are dear.

يَنوبُ مَنابَ البدرِ ليلةَ تمّهِ

يَنوبُ مَنابَ البدرِ ليلةَ تمّهِ

وَيُغني غناءَ الشّمسِ حين تغيبُ

وَيُغني غناءَ الشّمسِ حين تغيبُ

He takes the full moon’s place on the night of its fullness,

It shone like the full moon in the blackest night,

And stands in for the sun when it sets.

And sang like the sun, whose setting we fear.

وَلمّا دَعاني للغرامِ أَجبتُه

وَلمّا دَعاني للغرامِ أَجبتُه

وَما كانَ قَلبي للغرامِ يجيبُ

وَما كانَ قَلبي للغرامِ يجيبُ

And when he called me to passion, I answered him,

Though love had never tapped upon my heart,

Though my heart was not accustomed to answering passion.

At its call I answered, with no thought to rue.

وَما كنتُ إِلّا فيهِ للحُبِّ طائِعاً

وَما كنتُ إِلّا فيهِ للحُبِّ طائِعاً

وَما لِسواهُ في الفؤادِ نَصيبُ

وَما لِسواهُ في الفؤادِ نَصيبُ

And only for him was I obedient to love,

My love was obedience, untried before,

And no one else has a share in my heart.

No other in my heart could stake a claim.