لست أنسى رعبوبة بشرتني

لست أنسى رعبوبة بشرتني

بازديار قبيل وقت الغروب

بازديار قبيل وقت الغروب

I cannot forget a tender maiden who brought me glad news

I do not forget a tender young beauty who gave me glad news

of a visit shortly before sunset.

of a visit just before sunset.

ثم اومت إلي ان لست أنسا

ثم اومت إلي ان لست أنسا

ك ولكن أخاف منك رقبي

ك ولكن أخاف منك رقبي

Then she gestured to me: “I shall never forget

Then she gestured to me, “I do not forget

you—but on your account I fear my watcher.”

you, but I fear my watchers because of you.”

فتبسمت ثم أوجمت عن رَدّ

فتبسمت ثم أوجمت عن رَدّ

جواب من خفق قلب طروب

جواب من خفق قلب طروب

So I smiled, then fell speechless, unable to return

So I smiled, then fell silent, unable to give

an answer, for my enraptured heart was pounding.

an answer, because my enraptured heart was fluttering.

فمضت ريثما غفت أعين الحرا

فمضت ريثما غفت أعين الحرا

س عنا وحان وعد الحبيب

س عنا وحان وعد الحبيب

So she withdrew until the guards’ eyes had dozed,

So she went away until the guards’ eyes fell asleep,

heedless of us, and the beloved’s trysting hour arrived.

heedless of us, and the beloved’s promised hour arrived.

ثم جاءت تعطو بعاطل جيد

ثم جاءت تعطو بعاطل جيد

تتهادى في فضل برد قشيب

تتهادى في فضل برد قشيب

Then she came, her jewel-bare neck held high,

Then she came, stretching forth her unadorned neck,

gliding with a graceful sway in the trailing folds of a fresh robe.

swaying gracefully in the loose folds of a new striped cloak.

نزعت حليها وعطلت الجي

نزعت حليها وعطلت الجي

د ومالت نحوي كغصن رطيب

د ومالت نحوي كغصن رطيب

She had removed her jewels and left her neck bare;

She had removed her jewelry and left her neck

then leaned toward me like a fresh, supple bough.

bare, and leaned toward me like a supple branch.

كيف يخفى تحت الدجى نفح طيب

كيف يخفى تحت الدجى نفح طيب

How could a waft of perfume remain hidden beneath night’s darkness?

How can a waft of perfume be hidden beneath the darkness of night?