سكنت إلى النوى ونسيت صبّا

سكنت إلى النوى ونسيت صبّا

نحيلاً كاد يقتله الحنين

نحيلاً كاد يقتله الحنين

You grew content with separation and forgot a lovesick lover,

He settled in yearning and forgot the dawn,

emaciated, nearly killed by longing.

Gaunt, as if longing itself would slay him.

فلما لم يجد في الحب صبراً

فلما لم يجد في الحب صبراً

ولم ترحم جوانحه السجون

ولم ترحم جوانحه السجون

And when he found no patience in love,

When he found no patience in love

and the prisons showed his breast no mercy,

And prison offered no mercy,

تفاني في النحول فلو تبدّى

تفاني في النحول فلو تبدّى

لما فطنت لخطرته العيون

لما فطنت لخطرته العيون

he wasted away to nothing; were he to appear,

He wasted away in leanness. Had he appeared,

no eyes would notice his passing.

Eyes would have scarcely recognized him.

وها هو كالخيال أتاك يسرى

وها هو كالخيال أتاك يسرى

مخافة أن تظَنَّ به الظنون

مخافة أن تظَنَّ به الظنون

And behold, like a phantom he has come to you, traveling by night,

Yet here he comes to you like a phantom,

for fear that suspicions might be harbored about him.

Fearing you might suspect him of ill designs.

فأكرم نزله وارحم ضناهُ

فأكرم نزله وارحم ضناهُ

فإن فؤادكَ الحرم الأمينُ

فإن فؤادكَ الحرم الأمينُ

So welcome him generously, and pity his wasting illness,

So honor his visit and have pity on his weakness,

for your heart is the safe sanctuary.

For your heart is the inviolable sanctuary.