سبتني صفان السكريّ الذي حكى

سبتني صفان السكريّ الذي حكى

بضاعته حتَّى عدمت قراري

بضاعته حتَّى عدمت قراري

The sugar seller’s two qualities enthralled me—he who resembled

The confectioner’s two rows captivated me—he who mirrored

his wares—until I lost all composure:

His wares, until I lost my composure:

مكرّر لفظ في ثنيَّات مبسم

مكرّر لفظ في ثنيَّات مبسم

وأحمر خدٍّ في نبات عذار

وأحمر خدٍّ في نبات عذار

an utterance repeated among the incisors of a smiling mouth,

Twice-refined speech among a smiling mouth’s front teeth,

and the crimson of both his cheeks amid the budding growth of his beard.

And a ruddy cheek amid the growth of facial down.