يا طائر البان غريداً على فننٍ

يا طائر البان غريداً على فننٍ

ما فاض لولاك دمعي بين خلّاني

ما فاض لولاك دمعي بين خلّاني

O bird of the bān tree, warbling on a bough,

O nightingale singing on the branches

But for you, my tears would not have flowed among my friends.

My tears would not have overflowed were it not for you amidst my solitude

عابوا عليّ البكا يا ليتهم علموا

عابوا عليّ البكا يا ليتهم علموا

ما هاج نوحك لي يا طائر البان

ما هاج نوحك لي يا طائر البان

They reproached me for weeping—oh, if only they knew

They reproached me for crying - if only they knew

What your lament stirred in me, O bird of the bān tree.

What your laments have stirred in me, O nightingale

لو شاهدوا قمراً فارقته سحراً

لو شاهدوا قمراً فارقته سحراً

ناحوا معي ولحَوا من بات يلحاني

ناحوا معي ولحَوا من بات يلحاني

Had they seen a moon from whom I parted before dawn,

Had they seen a moon I bid farewell at dawn

They would have wailed with me and rebuked whoever spent the night rebuking me.

They would have wept with me and wished well to one who makes me yearn

كم قال لي يا رعاه اللَه من قمرٍ

كم قال لي يا رعاه اللَه من قمرٍ

لا يبكينَّك بعدي نوح ورشان

لا يبكينَّك بعدي نوح ورشان

How often a moon said to me—oh, may God watch over him—

How often the one sent by God said to me:

“Do not let a wood pigeon's lament make you weep after I am gone.”

“Do not cry for me after I am gone with sorrow and eagerness”

هذي الوصية لولا الوجد ما نسيت

هذي الوصية لولا الوجد ما نسيت

يا طائر البان فارفق بالشجي العاني

يا طائر البان فارفق بالشجي العاني

But for love's anguish, I would not have forgotten this counsel.

This bequest - were it not for passion I'd not forget

O bird of the bān tree, be gentle with the sorrowful captive.

O nightingale, have mercy on the suffering lover