ألم يكفني شوق إليه وأدمع

ألم يكفني شوق إليه وأدمع

عليه إذا ما جادت الغيث أمسكا

عليه إذا ما جادت الغيث أمسكا

Were longing for him and tears not enough for me—

Is not my longing for him and my tears over him enough,

tears for him that, whenever they poured, made the rain hold back—

Whenever rain pours down they hold back,

وأني مذ فارقت لا ذقت بعده

وأني مذ فارقت لا ذقت بعده

محياه لم أصحب حميماً سوى البكا

محياه لم أصحب حميماً سوى البكا

and that, since I left—may I taste nothing thereafter—

And since I left him I have not tasted, after him,

his face, I have kept no close companion but weeping,

The sweetness of life, I have had no intimate friend but crying,

إلى أن شكا حالاً غدوت لحملها

إلى أن شكا حالاً غدوت لحملها

أكابد من همي به فوق ما شكا

أكابد من همي به فوق ما شكا

until he lamented a plight that, in bearing it, I came

Until he complained of a condition, so I started bearing

to endure, from my concern for him, more than he lamented?

The burden of my sadness for him beyond his complaints,

وحرك أشجاني على أن في الحشا

وحرك أشجاني على أن في الحشا

لها باعثاً من نفسها ومحركا

لها باعثاً من نفسها ومحركا

And he stirred my sorrows, though within my breast

And he stirred my passions to that the deserted encampment

they have an awakener and a stirrer of their own.

Has an incentive in itself and a mover,

فيا نازحاً أودى بقلبي ولم يزل

فيا نازحاً أودى بقلبي ولم يزل

بإخلاصه في حبه متمسكا

بإخلاصه في حبه متمسكا

So, O distant one who has undone my heart, which still

So farewell to the one who has ruined my heart and has not ceased

holds fast to the sincerity of its love.

To be sincere in his love, steadfast,

وحقك لو عاينت ما في جوانحي

وحقك لو عاينت ما في جوانحي

لساءك أو ما في ضميري لسركا

لساءك أو ما في ضميري لسركا

And by your claim upon me, were you to see what lies within my ribs,

And you deserve that if you saw what was in my feelings,

it would grieve you; or what lies in my inmost heart would delight you:

Or what was in my conscience, you would be gentle or pity me,

جوى لو غدا في حصن صهيون بعضه

جوى لو غدا في حصن صهيون بعضه

تزلزل أو أخني عليه تدكدكا

تزلزل أو أخني عليه تدكدكا

a burning anguish—were some of it within Sahyoun's fortress,

Part of Tawhid, if tomorrow in the castle of Zion it shook

it would quake—or, if that anguish assailed it, crumble;

Or I sang mournfully over it, you would see it crumbling and decaying,

وتوحيد وجد لو تقسم لم تجد

وتوحيد وجد لو تقسم لم تجد

على الأرض في دين المودة مشركا

على الأرض في دين المودة مشركا

and a passion devoted to one alone—were it shared out, you would not find

And if the oneness of passionate love were divided you would not find,

on earth a polytheist in the faith of affection.

On earth in the religion of love, a polytheist,

فصبراً على أني وقد غبت رمته

فصبراً على أني وقد غبت رمته

فلم ألق نحو الصبر بعدك مسلكا

فلم ألق نحو الصبر بعدك مسلكا

So, patience! Though, when you were gone, I sought it,

So patience, even though I am distanced, I have flung his tent rope,

yet after you I found no path toward patience.

Yet I have not inclined after you towards patience as a course,

فهل هو إلا البرق أومض موهناً

فهل هو إلا البرق أومض موهناً

لديك ليحكي نار وجدي فما حكى

لديك ليحكي نار وجدي فما حكى

Then is it anything but the lightning that flashed late at night

Is it not but the lightning that flashed weakly for you

near you to mirror my passion's fire, yet failed to do so;

To tell of the fire of my passion, but it did not tell,

أو القطر يهمي وهو مذ شطت النوى

أو القطر يهمي وهو مذ شطت النوى

رأى عبرتي تجري فمثلها لكا

رأى عبرتي تجري فمثلها لكا

or the rain pouring down, which, since separation took you far away,

Or is it the rain that surges while since the blossoms budded

saw my tears flow, then copied them for you;

It saw my tears flowing so it resembled them for you,

أو الشمس أخفت وجهها عنك كي ترى

أو الشمس أخفت وجهها عنك كي ترى

وقد غبت عني وحشة الأفق بعد كا

وقد غبت عني وحشة الأفق بعد كا

or the sun, which hid her face from you so that you might see,

Or is it the sun that hid its face from you so you would see

now you are gone from me, the horizon's desolation after you?

The horizon was desolate after him from me,

عساك ترى الرأي الموفق بعدها

عساك ترى الرأي الموفق بعدها

فإن الذي أغراك من قبل غركا

فإن الذي أغراك من قبل غركا

May you see the right course after this,

May you see wisdom after this,

for the one who enticed you before deceived you.

For what fooled you before, fooled you.