1. Listen to it, softer than rose petals
And more dewy than jasmine in bloom,
١. واسْتَمِعْها أَرَقَّ مِنْ وَرَقِ الوَّرْ
دِ وأَنْدَى مِنْ ياسَمينٍ مُنَدّى
2. With meanings that, were they cheeks,
Would be in beauty a narcissus and a rose,
٢. بِمَعانٍ لَوْ أَنَّهُنَّ خُدُودٌ
كُنَّ في الحُسْنِ جُلَّناراً وَوَرْدَا
3. Were we to satirize oblivion with them it would melt away
Or were we to praise time with them it would be kinder.
٣. لَوْ هَجَوْنا بِها المَنونَ لَدَلَّتْ
أَوْ مَدَحْنا بِها الزَّمانَ لأَجْدى