تبخّر بعود الطيب لا زلت طيبا

تبخّر بعود الطيب لا زلت طيبا

ورش بماء الزهر يا خلّ والورد

ورش بماء الزهر يا خلّ والورد

Perfume yourself with fragrant aloeswood—may you always remain fragrant.

The fragrance of incense still lingers though it has vanished,

Perfume yourself with the wood of incense; may you remain ever good,

And sprinkle blossom- and rose-water, dear friend.

Sprinkled with rosewater, oh jasmine and rose,

And sprinkle blossom water, O friend, and rose water,

وما بغيتي هذا ولكن تفاؤلاً

وما بغيتي هذا ولكن تفاؤلاً

بعودٍ إلى عودٍ ووردٍ إلى ورد

بعودٍ إلى عودٍ ووردٍ إلى ورد

And this is not what I seek, but rather a hopeful omen:

It's not what I wished but out of optimism

And this was not my mere desire, but rather an act of optimism,

Aloeswood pointing toward a return, and roses toward an arrival.

Of return to return, and rose to rose.

For wood to return to wood, and roses to a rose.