ولقد حللتُ من المحلَّة منزلاً

ولقد حللتُ من المحلَّة منزلاً

ملك العيون وجاز رقَّا الأنفس

ملك العيون وجاز رقَّا الأنفس

And indeed I lodged in a dwelling in al-Maḥalla,

I took up residence in a beloved abode,

That captivated the eyes and claimed souls as slaves.

The abode of beautiful eyes and refined souls.

وجمعت بين النيّرين تجمُّعاً

وجمعت بين النيّرين تجمُّعاً

أمنا المحاق فأصبحا في مجلس

أمنا المحاق فأصبحا في مجلس

And I brought the two luminaries together in a gathering,

I brought together the two rivers in union,

Both safe from the dark of the moon, they came to share one assembly.

As though they were kinsmen gathered in council.

ما بين يومٍ بالممنَّع مقمرٍ

ما بين يومٍ بالممنَّع مقمرٍ

حسناً وليلٍ بالمليحة مشمس

حسناً وليلٍ بالمليحة مشمس

Between a day at al-Mumannaʿ, moonlit

Between a day graced with forbidden pleasures,

With beauty, and a night at al-Malīḥa, sunlit.

Of beauty and a night lit up with a radiant moon,

والبرقُ طلقٌ كالأحبَّة ضاحك

والبرقُ طلقٌ كالأحبَّة ضاحك

في حجر غيمٍ كالرقيب معبّس

في حجر غيمٍ كالرقيب معبّس

And lightning is cheerful, laughing like loved ones,

Lightning flashes, laughing like happy lovers,

In the lap of a cloud that scowls like a watcher.

In the lap of clouds, like a scowling chaperone.

والروض فيه من الحسان ملامح

والروض فيه من الحسان ملامح

وضّاحة للناظر المتفرّس

وضّاحة للناظر المتفرّس

And the garden bears features of fair women,

The meadow contains features of loveliness,

Radiantly clear to the discerning beholder.

Dazzling to the watchful, roving eye.

فخدوده وردٌ وهيف قدوده

فخدوده وردٌ وهيف قدوده

قضبٌ ودعج عيونه من نرجس

قضبٌ ودعج عيونه من نرجس

For its cheeks are roses, and its slender figures

Its cheeks are roses and the slopes of its breasts,

Are boughs, and its dark eyes are of narcissus.

Reeds, its heavy hips like narcissus.