أأن ناح قُمرىٌّ بغصنِ بَشامةٍ

أأن ناح قُمرىٌّ بغصنِ بَشامةٍ

وغرد في أعلى الأراك حَمامُ

وغرد في أعلى الأراك حَمامُ

Is it because a turtledove mourned on a balsam branch

A rosy-cheeked moon is lamenting on a fragrant branch,

and doves warbled atop the arak tree,

And a dove is cooing atop the shady trees.

أهاج لك التذكار شوقاً كأنما

أهاج لك التذكار شوقاً كأنما

له بين أحناء الضلوع ضرام

له بين أحناء الضلوع ضرام

that remembrance stirred a longing in you, as though

Remembrance has stirred longing in you, as though

it had a fire burning among the curves of your ribs?

It has a grievance sheltered between the ribs.

خليلي هل بعد الفراق تواصل

خليلي هل بعد الفراق تواصل

وهل بعد توديع الحبيب مُقامُ

وهل بعد توديع الحبيب مُقامُ

My two friends, is there reunion after parting,

My friend, will there still be communication after parting?

and after bidding the beloved farewell, can one remain?

Will there still be sojourn after bidding farewell to a beloved?

دهتني النوى حتى كأن أحبتّي

دهتني النوى حتى كأن أحبتّي

على القربِ مني والدنوّ حرام

على القربِ مني والدنوّ حرام

Separation has afflicted me, till it seems my loved ones,

Yearning has addled me, until it seems as if

despite being close and near to me, are forbidden to me.

Being near me and intimacy are forbidden to my loved one.

ومما استهام القلبَ وهو مصدَّع

ومما استهام القلبَ وهو مصدَّع

وأوهَى جُمانَ الدمع وهو سِجامُ

وأوهَى جُمانَ الدمع وهو سِجامُ

And among what enthralled my shattered heart

And of that which has preoccupied my heart while it is split -

and unstrung the pearls of my streaming tears

It has wearied the tears of my eyes while they are barred.

مطوَّقةٌ ورقاءُ تندُب شجوهَا

مطوَّقةٌ ورقاءُ تندُب شجوهَا

وتسهر فيه الليلَ وهو تمامُ

وتسهر فيه الليلَ وهو تمامُ

was a gray, ring-necked dove lamenting her grief,

A gazelle, decked in flowers, laments her passion,

and keeping vigil in it the whole night through.

She keeps vigil over it at night while it is complete.

تنوح بِلا دمع وللحزن آية

تنوح بِلا دمع وللحزن آية

على نوحها مشهورة وغرام

على نوحها مشهورة وغرام

She laments without tears, yet grief has a sign

She wails without tears - grief has a sign

plain in her lament—and so does passion.

Announcing her wailing and love.

ألا يا حمام الأيك مالَكَ والهاً

ألا يا حمام الأيك مالَكَ والهاً

كأنك ممّن أسكرتْه مُدامُ

كأنك ممّن أسكرتْه مُدامُ

Ah, dove of the thicket, why are you distraught,

Oh dove of the thickets - what has distracted you

as though you were one whom wine had intoxicated?

As if you are one whom wine has intoxicated?

كِلانا مِحبٌّ صدّع البين شَملَه

كِلانا مِحبٌّ صدّع البين شَملَه

وكل مُحِبّ بالفِراقِ يضام

وكل مُحِبّ بالفِراقِ يضام

Each of us is a lover whose union parting has shattered,

We both are lovers - separation has split our union,

and every lover is wronged by separation.

And every lover is pained by parting.

سلام على من حجّبتْ شخصه النوى

سلام على من حجّبتْ شخصه النوى

وإن كان لا يغني المحبَّ سلامُ

وإن كان لا يغني المحبَّ سلامُ

Greetings to the one whose form separation has veiled,

Peace be upon he whose person absence has veiled,

though greetings are of no avail to the lover.

Though peace does not avail the lover when bidden.