جرى في عودِه ماءُ الشبابِ

جرى في عودِه ماءُ الشبابِ

وأسكرهُ الصِّبا قبل التّصابي

وأسكرهُ الصِّبا قبل التّصابي

The water of youth coursed through his bough,

The sap of youth flowed through his stem.

and the east wind made him drunk before he ever played at youth.

And youth intoxicated him before he feigned youthfulness.

ويخطُر كالقضيبِ اهتزّ رِيّا

ويخطُر كالقضيبِ اهتزّ رِيّا

وجُرّ عليه ذيلٌ من سَحابِ

وجُرّ عليه ذيلٌ من سَحابِ

He sways like a slender branch, trembling and lush,

And he sways like a trembling bough, lush with moisture.

while over him is drawn a trailing hem of cloud.

And a train of cloud was drawn over him.

هتفْتُ به وبُرْدُ الليلِ بالٍ

هتفْتُ به وبُرْدُ الليلِ بالٍ

ونجمُ الصُبحِ ورديُّ النِّقابِ

ونجمُ الصُبحِ ورديُّ النِّقابِ

I called to him as night’s cloak wore thin,

I called to him while night's cloak was threadbare,

and the morning star was rose-veiled.

And the morning star's veil was rose-colored.

ومرّ بنا النسيمُ فرقّ حتى

ومرّ بنا النسيمُ فرقّ حتى

كأني قد شكوْتُ إليه ما بي

كأني قد شكوْتُ إليه ما بي

The breeze passed by us and grew so tender that

And the breeze passed us and grew so tender,

I thought I had confided to it all that ailed me.

As though I had complained to it of what ailed me.

ولفّ الليلُ شملتَهُ بحاءٍ

ولفّ الليلُ شملتَهُ بحاءٍ

وبلّ الصُبْحُ أذيالَ الرّوابي

وبلّ الصُبْحُ أذيالَ الرّوابي

And night folded its mantle into a ḥāʾ,

And night folded its mantle at Ḥāʾ (uncertain reading),

and dawn bedewed the skirts of the hills.

And dawn dampened the skirts of the hills.