She sat with fear in her eyes br Contemplating the upturned cup br She said 'Do not be sad, my son br You are destined to fall in love' br My son, Who sacrifices himself for his beloved, br Is a martyr br br * br For long have I studied fortune-telling br But never have I read a cup similar to yours br For long have I studied fortune-telling br But never have I seen sorrows similar to yours br You are predestined to sail forever br Sail-less, on the sea of love br Your life is forever destined br To be a book of tears br And be imprisoned br Between water and fire br br * br But despite all its pains, br Despite the sadness br That is with us day and night br Despite the wind br The rainy weather br And the cyclone br It is love, my son br That will be forever the best of fates br br * br There is a woman in your life, my son br Her eyes are so beautiful br Glory to God br Her mouth and her laughter br Are full of roses and melodies br And her gypsy and crazy love of life br Travels the world br The woman you love br May be your whole world br But your sky will be rain-filled br Your road blocked, blocked, my son br Your beloved, my son, is sleeping br In a guarded palace br He who approaches her garden wall br Who enters her room br And who proposes to her br Or tries to unite her plaits br Will cause her to be lost, my son…lost br br * br You will seek her everywhere, my son br You will ask the waves of the sea about her br You will ask the shores of the seas br You will travel the oceans br And your tears will flow like a river br And at the close of your life br You will find that since your beloved br Has no land, no home, no address br You have been pursuing only a trace of smoke br How difficult it is, my son br To love a woman br Who has neither land, nor homebr br Nizar Qabbanibr br