1. غصنٌ من البان في وشاحِ

    ركَّب في مَغْرِس رَداحِ

    A bough of the bān tree in a sash,

    Set in a broad, ample planting-bed.

  2. يهتز طوعاً لغير ريح

    والغصن يهتز للرياحِ

    It sways willingly to something other than wind,

    While a bough sways to the winds.

  3. غصن ولكنه فتاة

    بديعة الشكل في الملاحِ

    A bough—but she is a maiden,

    Of exquisite form among the beauties.

  4. زينتْ بوجه عليه فرع

    يحكي ظلاماً على صباحِ

    She is adorned with a face, with hair above it,

    Like darkness over dawn.

  5. ينفسح الطرف حين تبدو

    غُرتُه أيَّما انفساحِ

    The gaze opens wide when there appears

    Its radiant brow—how wide it opens!

  6. يا حسنَ خد لها رقيقٍ

    يكاد يَدمى بلا جراحِ

    How lovely her delicate cheek,

    It almost bleeds without a wound.

  7. ترنو بطرف لها مريض

    بين جفون لها صحاحِ

    She gazes with a languid eye,

    Between her healthy eyelids.

  8. لم يدَّكرها المحبُّ إلا

    طار اشتياقاً بلا جناحِ

    Her lover never recalls her

    But he flies in longing, without wings.

  9. مثِّلْهما آخذَيْ نصيب

    من الفكاهات والمزاحِ

    Picture the two of them taking a share

    Of merriment and playful jest,

  10. في عض خدٍّ ولثم ثغرٍ

    ورشف ريقٍ وشرب راحِ

    In biting a cheek and kissing lips,

    And sipping saliva and drinking wine,

  11. بلا نِفارٍ ولا نقارٍ

    ولا ضِرارٍ ولا تلاحي

    With no aversion and no bickering,

    And no harm and no mutual reproach,

  12. ولا لجاَجٍ ولا ضِجاجٍ

    ولا حِرانٍ ولا جماحِ

    And no obstinacy and no clamour,

    And no balking and no bolting,

  13. ذوِي سرورٍ ذوي حبورٍ

    ذوي نشاطٍ ذوي مراحِ

    Both full of joy, both full of gladness,

    Both full of vigour, both full of gaiety,

  14. بحيث لا لغو فيه إلا

    غناء طيرٍ به فصاحِ

    Where there is no idle talk except

    The song of eloquent birds there.

  15. طير تغني إذا تغنَّت

    مهما أرادا بلا اقتراحِ

    Birds that sing, whenever they sing,

    Whatever the two desire, without being asked.

  16. محلُّ صدقٍ يحل فيه

    أهل السعادات والفلاحِ

    An abode of truth, where dwell

    People of happiness and success.

  17. طاب فما يبرحان منه

    ولا يريدان من بَراحِ

    It is delightful, so the two never leave it,

    Nor do they wish to depart.

  18. يا حسن قول الفتاة حِبَّى

    أنجحتَ أقصى مدى النجاحِ

    How lovely the maiden's words: “My beloved,

    You have attained the utmost success!

  19. تفعل ما تشتهي هنيئاً

    ليس على الصبِّ من جناحِ

    You may do whatever you desire, with pleasure;

    No blame rests upon the ardent lover.

  20. حقُّك أن تستبيح منِّي

    ما ليس منِّي بمستباحِ

    It is your right to take freely from me

    What may not otherwise be taken from me.

  21. ما زلت لا تستريح حتى

    حللت في خير مُستراحِ

    You went on without rest until

    You settled in the finest resting-place.

  22. أنت الذي كان في طلابي

    أخا غدو أخا رَواحِ

    You are the one who, in pursuit of me,

    Was companion to morning journeys, companion to evening journeys.

  23. أنت الذي كان في طلابي

    معرَّضِ النحر للرماحِ

    You are the one who, in pursuit of me,

    Had his throat exposed to the spears.

  24. كم من سلاح حملت حتى

    سبيتَ قلبي بلا سلاحِ

    How many weapons you bore, until

    You took my heart captive, without a weapon!”