My heart was beating so hard,

It was as though a sand grouse *

had been hung

by its wings

on my heart

Indeed, I would long

for the day of resurrectio

if I were told

that ?Afrā’ and I

would surely meet

there

* It is said that sand grouse fly extreme distances to watering places to fetch water for their young. They soak themselves thoroughly in water, return the long distance without losing much of the water, and upon arrival flutter their wings fiercely over their young so they can drink. Altogether, this is a splendid simile to a hard-beating lovesick heart.

Have you not promised me, O heart,

that if I repented of the love of Laylā

you too would repent?

Here I am!

I have repented of Laylā's love

How is it then that every time

Laylā's name is mentioned,

you melt away?

A crier,

when we were in al-Khayf,

near Minā,

called out names,

not knowing that he stirred sorrow

in my heart

He called out the name

of another Laylā

thus releasing a fluttering bird

that was in my heart

It was as though my heart,

the night they said

that Laylā ‘l-ʿĀmirīyah would depart,

were a sand grouse

lured by a snare

and struggling to pull away

its ensnared wings

O covey of sand grouse!

Can any one of you

lend me your wings

perchance I might fly

to my beloved?

Her love seized me

before I ever knew love

It found an empty heart

wherein it took hold

The line is also attributed to Majnūn Laylā and Dīk al-Jinn al-Ḥimṣī.

My heart has never known

any love but hers

Verily, there is no love

before or after

her love

This line is noted for the best use of the two antonyms “qabl” (before) and “baʿd” (after).