وَمِثلُكَ مَدَّ يَمينَ النَدى

وَمِثلُكَ مَدَّ يَمينَ النَدى

بِعَلقٍ يُطيلُ عِنانَ النَظَر

بِعَلقٍ يُطيلُ عِنانَ النَظَر

And one such as you extended generosity’s right hand

Like you, the dewdrop stretched out

With a treasure that lengthens the rein of the gaze—

Its necklace, prolonging my yearning gaze

بِأَزرَقَ سالَت بِهِ صُفرَةٌ

بِأَزرَقَ سالَت بِهِ صُفرَةٌ

كَما طَرَّزَ البَرقُ ثَوبَ السَحَر

كَما طَرَّزَ البَرقُ ثَوبَ السَحَر

A blue treasure over which yellow flowed,

With azure tinged by saffron

As lightning embroidered the robe of the predawn hour.

As lightning embroidered the dress of dawn

أَتَتني بِهِ النارُ في صورَةٍ

أَتَتني بِهِ النارُ في صورَةٍ

أَرى لِلجِنانِ عَلَيها صُوَر

أَرى لِلجِنانِ عَلَيها صُوَر

Fire brought it to me in a form

You came to me in the guise of fire

On which I see images of gardens.

I see upon it images of paradise

فَطَرفُكَ ما راقَ مِن مَسحَةٍ

فَطَرفُكَ ما راقَ مِن مَسحَةٍ

عَلَيهِ وَلِلشَمسِ نورُ القَمَر

عَلَيهِ وَلِلشَمسِ نورُ القَمَر

For your gaze is the pleasing touch of beauty

So your eyelash, no fine caress

Upon it; and the moon’s light belongs to the sun.

Could match its grace, nor the sun the moon's light

فَإِن تَكُ دُهماً لَيالي النَوى

فَإِن تَكُ دُهماً لَيالي النَوى

فَإِنَّ تَحاياكَ فيها غُرَر

فَإِنَّ تَحاياكَ فيها غُرَر

So if the nights of separation are dark,

If nights of pining leave you wan

Then surely your greetings are white blazes amid them.

Then your coquetry still holds magic there