يا ويح من قد أقض مرقده

يا ويح من قد أقض مرقده

يقيمه وجده ويعقده

يقيمه وجده ويعقده

Alas for one whose bed has been robbed of rest—

Alas for him whose bed gives him no rest;

His passionate yearning raises him, then seats him again.

His longing rouses him and binds him.

وجمره بالفؤاد متقد

وجمره بالفؤاد متقد

يزداد في ليله توقده

يزداد في ليله توقده

The ember within his heart is ablaze,

And his embers blaze within his heart;

Its burning flaring ever fiercer through his night.

Their burning grows fiercer in his night.

طار الكرى حيث خاف من غرق

طار الكرى حيث خاف من غرق

في وكر عينيه فهو مبعده

في وكر عينيه فهو مبعده

Slumber flew away, afraid it might drown

Sleep flew away, for it feared drowning

In the nest of his eyes, and now remains banished.

In the nest of his eyes—so he drives it away.

والصب خاف الحريق من لهب

والصب خاف الحريق من لهب

كاد الهوى في الهواء يصعده

كاد الهوى في الهواء يصعده

The impassioned lover, too, feared the burning flame;

And the lovesick one feared burning from a flame

Love nearly sent him soaring through the air.

That passion nearly lifted into the air.

بات يناجي النجوم لو نطقت

بات يناجي النجوم لو نطقت

كانت له شفعاً فتنجده

كانت له شفعاً فتنجده

All night he confided in the stars—had they spoken,

He spent the night confiding in the stars; had they spoken,

They would have interceded for him and come to his aid.

They would have been his intercessors and come to his aid.

ويرقب البدر كي يحمله

ويرقب البدر كي يحمله

شكراً لمن لا تزال ترصده

شكراً لمن لا تزال ترصده

And he watches for the full moon, hoping it will carry him,

And he watches the full moon to entrust it with

As thanks to the one who never ceases watching for him.

Thanks to her who never ceases watching it.

مع النسيم السلام تصده

مع النسيم السلام تصده

فيعبق الطيب حين يورده

فيعبق الطيب حين يورده

With the breeze, she turns his greeting away;

With the breeze, she turns the greeting back,

Yet perfume fills the air whenever he sends it forth.

So perfume wafts when the breeze delivers it.

يا منيتي نحن في الهوى شرع

يا منيتي نحن في الهوى شرع

نحل حبل المنى ونعقده

نحل حبل المنى ونعقده

O my heart’s desire, in love we are equals:

O my heart's desire, we are equals in love;

We loosen the cord of hopes, then knot it anew.

We loosen the cord of hopes and knot it.

فكلنا للوصال منتظر

فكلنا للوصال منتظر

رب بؤوس اتاه مقصده

رب بؤوس اتاه مقصده

For we all await union;

So each of us awaits union;

Many a valiant soul has reached his goal.

Many a wretched soul has had his desire fulfilled.