أَومى لِتَقبيل البِساطِ خُنُوعا

أَومى لِتَقبيل البِساطِ خُنُوعا

فَوَضَعتُ خَدّي في التُّراب خُضُوعا

فَوَضَعتُ خَدّي في التُّراب خُضُوعا

He motioned for me to kiss the carpet in abasement,

He gestured for me to kiss the carpet in humility

So I laid my cheek in the dust in submission.

So I placed my cheek in the dust submissively

ما كانَ مذهبُهُ الخنوعَ لعَبدِهِ

ما كانَ مذهبُهُ الخنوعَ لعَبدِهِ

إِلا زِيادةُ قَلبِهِ تَقطيعا

إِلا زِيادةُ قَلبِهِ تَقطيعا

His aim in humbling his slave was nothing

His way was not to humble his servant

But to rend his heart still further.

But to increase the breaking of his heart

قُولوا لِمَن أَخَذ الفُؤاد مُسلَّماً

قُولوا لِمَن أَخَذ الفُؤاد مُسلَّماً

يَمنن عليَّ بردِّه مصدوعا

يَمنن عليَّ بردِّه مصدوعا

Tell him who took my surrendered heart

Say to the one who took my heart surrendered

To do me the favor of returning it, though shattered.

Bestow your mercy upon me, broken

العَبدُ قَد يعصي وَأحلفُ أَنَّني

العَبدُ قَد يعصي وَأحلفُ أَنَّني

ما كُنتُ إِلا سَامِعاً ومُطيعا

ما كُنتُ إِلا سَامِعاً ومُطيعا

A slave may disobey, yet I swear that I

The servant may disobey, and I swear that I

Have been nothing but attentive and obedient.

Was only hearing and obedient

مَولاي يَحيى في حَياةٍ كاسمِهِ

مَولاي يَحيى في حَياةٍ كاسمِهِ

وَأَنا أَموتُ صَبابَةً وَولوعا

وَأَنا أَموتُ صَبابَةً وَولوعا

My lord Yahya lives a life true to his name,

My Master Yahya lives in a life like his name

While I die of longing and ardent love.

While I die young and burning with passion

لا تُنكِروا غَيثَ الدُّمُوع فَكلُّ ما

لا تُنكِروا غَيثَ الدُّمُوع فَكلُّ ما

يَنحَلُّ من جِسمي يَكُونُ دُموعا

يَنحَلُّ من جِسمي يَكُونُ دُموعا

Do not find the rain of tears strange, for all that

Do not deny the rain of tears for all that

Dissolves away from my body turns into tears.

Melts from my body becomes tears