إِذا كُنتُ لا يُسَلّيكَ عَمَّن تُحِبُّهُ

إِذا كُنتُ لا يُسَلّيكَ عَمَّن تُحِبُّهُ

تَناءٍ وَلا يَشفيكَ طولُ تَلاقي

تَناءٍ وَلا يَشفيكَ طولُ تَلاقي

If, from the one you love, nothing can console you—

If you find no consolation for the one you love

neither distance, nor prolonged union heal you—

in separation, nor healing in prolonged meetings,

فَما أَنتَ إِلّا مُستَعيرٌ حُشاشَةً

فَما أَنتَ إِلّا مُستَعيرٌ حُشاشَةً

لَمُهجَةِ نَفسٍ آذَنَت بِفِراقِ

لَمُهجَةِ نَفسٍ آذَنَت بِفِراقِ

then you are nothing but a borrower of a remnant of life

then you are merely borrowing a remnant of life

for the lifeblood of a soul already signaling its departure.

for the heart of a soul that has announced its departure.