أَلاَّAh! حبَّذاhow lovely شجراءtrees جِلَّقJilliq عُرِّيَتْthey were stripped bare
أَلاَّ حبَّذا شجراء جِلَّق عُرِّيَتْ
منof الحَلْيfinery أوْor لمdid not تَعْرَbecome bare فهيَso they are علىon السَوَاan equal footing
من الحَلْي أوْ لم تَعْرَ فهيَ على السَوَا
Ah, how lovely are Jilliq’s trees, whether stripped
How great is a shack surrounded by trees,
of their finery or not—they are lovely just the same.
Whether clothed in beauty or bare to the breeze!
فإِنْfor if تكتسthey clothe themselves فالحالُthen their state لاno شكdoubt بيِّنٌclear
فإِنْ تكتس فالحالُ لا شك بيِّنٌ
وإِنُand if عُريتْthey were stripped bare أغْرَتْthey incited فؤادَكَyour heart بالجوىto love’s anguish
وإِنُ عُريتْ أغْرَتْ فؤادَكَ بالجوى
For if they clothe themselves, their charm is plain beyond doubt;
If clothed, its state is clearly divine,
and if stripped bare, they draw your heart into love’s anguish.
And if bare, it kindles love in your heart.
أَلمْhave you not تَرهاseen them تحكيthey resemble نحافةَthe thinness of عاشِقٍa lover
أَلمْ تَرها تحكي نحافةَ عاشِقٍ
فتذكرand thus they remind بالمحبوبِof the beloved منwhoever كانَwas ذاpossessed of هوىlove
فتذكر بالمحبوبِ من كانَ ذا هوى
Have you not seen them mirror a lover’s gauntness,
Can you not see it portray a lover's leanness?
and thus remind whoever is in love of the beloved?
Thus reminding all lovers of who they hold dear.
Sol 6.1