فأنت الغصن اللدن

فأنت الغصن اللدن

ومنك السجع واللحن

ومنك السجع واللحن

For you are the supple bough,

You are the soft branch,

and from you come cooing and melody.

and from you come rhyme and melody.

رضاب لك قد ازرى

رضاب لك قد ازرى

بما قد عتق الدن

بما قد عتق الدن

The nectar of your lips has put to shame

I have woven for you garments

what the wine jar has aged.

with what the world has set free.

فليست لك من سلوى

فليست لك من سلوى

وان كان لك المن

وان كان لك المن

So there is no solace for you,

You have no consolation,

even if manna is yours.

though you own bounty,

إذا استرسلت في فن

إذا استرسلت في فن

مشى طوعاً لك الفن

مشى طوعاً لك الفن

When you give yourself freely to an art,

when you indulge in art -

that art walks willingly at your bidding.

art itself becomes your slave.