سريت والليل داج

سريت والليل داج

وللسواقي عجاج

وللسواقي عجاج

I journeyed by night, and the night was dark,

I walked while night was dark,

And the streams were roaring.

Towards the rivers with clamoring frogs.

أسعى إلى حاجتي

أسعى إلى حاجتي

كأنما أنا حاج

كأنما أنا حاج

I strove toward my desire,

I headed towards my desire,

As though I were a pilgrim.

As if I were a pilgrim.

وحاجتي في حمىً

وحاجتي في حمىً

محصنِ الأبراج

محصنِ الأبراج

And my desire lay in a sanctuary,

And my desire was in a fortress,

With fortified towers,

Protected by high towers.

عالٍ يحفُّ به

عالٍ يحفُّ به

من الحديدِ سياج

من الحديدِ سياج

Lofty, encircled

It was surrounded

By a fence of iron.

By an iron fence.

شكت على سوره

شكت على سوره

شوائكٌ من زجاج

شوائكٌ من زجاج

Upon its wall were set

I complained of its wall—

Thorns of glass.

A lattice of glass.

وقفت في بابه

وقفت في بابه

كالسائل المحتاج

كالسائل المحتاج

I stood at its gate,

I stood at its gate

Like a needy beggar,

Like a beggar in need.

مستطلعاً وجهها

مستطلعاً وجهها

لعله ذو انبلاج

لعله ذو انبلاج

Seeking a glimpse of her face,

Looking for her face,

Hoping it might shine forth.

Hoping it would smile.

ومر ليلي وبي

ومر ليلي وبي

وجدٌ شديد اللجاج

وجدٌ شديد اللجاج

And my night passed, while within me

My night passed while I

Was fierce, unrelenting longing.

Met with refusal.

وعدت في خيبتي

وعدت في خيبتي

من بعد لثمِ الرتاج

من بعد لثمِ الرتاج

And I returned in my disappointment,

After being spurned,

After kissing the great gate.

I returned in disappointment.