بدرa full moon حكىresembled سطرهhis line of writing فيon الطرسthe parchment اذwhen نمقاhe embellished it
بدر حكى سطره في الطرس اذ نمقا
دجىnight’s darkness عذارcheek-down علىupon خدّa cheek حكىresembled شفقاtwilight’s glow
دجى عذار على خدّ حكى شفقا
A full moon: his line upon the parchment, as he embellished it, mirrored
the darkness of cheek-down on a cheek that mirrored twilight’s glow.
وافىreached اليراعthe reed pen عقيقاًcarnelian منfrom مراشفهhis lips
وافى اليراع عقيقاً من مراشفه
ثمthen اعتلىmounted أنملاfingers منof جوهرprecious stone ورقىand rose
ثم اعتلى أنملا من جوهر ورقى
The reed pen reached the carnelian of his lips,
then mounted gemlike fingers and rose.
فاهتزso it quivered يبديgiving forth صريراًa squeak كنتI was أحسبهthinking it
فاهتز يبدي صريراً كنت أحسبه
داويhealed بهwith it عقلthe mind مجنونof one mad الهوىwith love ورقىand cast a healing charm
داوي به عقل مجنون الهوى ورقى
It quivered, giving out a squeak; I thought it
healed and charmed, with that sound, the mind of one mad with love.
كأنهas though it حينwhen راحwine الثغرof the mouth أسكرهintoxicated it
كأنه حين راح الثغر أسكره
غنىit sang فكادand nearly غناهits singing يطربenraptured الورقاthe gray doves
غنى فكاد غناه يطرب الورقا
As though, when the wine of his mouth had intoxicated it,
it sang, and its singing nearly enraptured the gray doves.
Sol 6.1