يا أيُّها النَّشْوان من سِنَةِ الكرى

يا أيُّها النَّشْوان من سِنَةِ الكرى

نَمْ وابْقِ لي طرْفاً لشَخْصِكَ حَارِسَا

نَمْ وابْقِ لي طرْفاً لشَخْصِكَ حَارِسَا

O you, intoxicated by the drowsiness of sleep,

O you who are sweet from the hardship of fate

Sleep, and leave me an eye to guard your person.

Sleep, and keep for me an eye on your person as guardian

ما إن رأيت ولا سمعت بمثل ما

ما إن رأيت ولا سمعت بمثل ما

في القلب من حُبيّك قطّ مجانِسَا

في القلب من حُبيّك قطّ مجانِسَا

Never have I seen or heard of anything like what

Never have I seen or heard the like of what

My heart holds of love for you—anything akin to it.

Is in my heart for your love ever intimate

أفديك من رَشَأ تناعَسَ طَرْفُهُ

أفديك من رَشَأ تناعَسَ طَرْفُهُ

من قبل أن يُلْفى وحقك ناعسا

من قبل أن يُلْفى وحقك ناعسا

I would ransom you, a young gazelle whose gaze feigned drowsiness,

I ransom you from the slumber that weighs on its eyelid

Before he was found drowsy—by your worth!

Before it is folded, though you have a right to sleep

يهتزُّ كالغصْن الرطيب إِذا مشى

يهتزُّ كالغصْن الرطيب إِذا مشى

والقضب أحسن ما تكون موائِسَا

والقضب أحسن ما تكون موائِسَا

He sways like a fresh, supple bough when he walks,

It sways like a moist branch when he walks

And boughs are loveliest when they sway.

And a blade of grass is best as intimate friend

لَبِسَ الحُليَّ وقامَ يخطر باسماً

لَبِسَ الحُليَّ وقامَ يخطر باسماً

فجلى عن الليل البهيم حَنادِسَا

فجلى عن الليل البهيم حَنادِسَا

He donned the jewels and rose, strutting with a smile,

He wore his jewelry and stood mentioning a name

Then swept the deep gloom from the pitch-black night.

So he cleared the gloomy night of firebrands

في خدِّه خالٌ غدتْ شَعَرَاتُهُ

في خدِّه خالٌ غدتْ شَعَرَاتُهُ

تحكي دُخَانَ المِسْك أضحى حارسا

تحكي دُخَانَ المِسْك أضحى حارسا

On his cheek is a beauty mark whose hairs have come

On his cheek is a mole whose hairs

To resemble the smoke of musk; it has become a guardian.

Tell of the smoke of musk when it appears as guardian

فالله يحرسه على كيد العِدَى

فالله يحرسه على كيد العِدَى

ويُديمه خِلاًّ عليَّ مؤانِسَا

ويُديمه خِلاًّ عليَّ مؤانِسَا

So may God guard him against the enemies' schemes,

So may God guard him from the spite of enemies

And keep him forever a close friend, bringing me solace.

And keep him as boon companion forever intimate