فديتُ دماً أريق من الفَصيدِ

فديتُ دماً أريق من الفَصيدِ

تغَّير منه مَسمُوم الصعيدِ

تغَّير منه مَسمُوم الصعيدِ

May I be the ransom for blood spilled from the opened vein—

I would give my life for blood spilled from the one whose vein was opened;

because of it, the poison-stricken one of the earth changed color.

the hot-wind-scorched earth changed because of it.

دمٌ قد كنت أنظر من قريبٍ

دمٌ قد كنت أنظر من قريبٍ

إليه فصرتُ أنظر من بعيدِ

إليه فصرتُ أنظر من بعيدِ

My blood—I once gazed upon it close at hand;

Blood—I used to gaze from close by

but now I have come to gaze upon it from afar.

at it; now I gaze from afar.

فلو أني ظفرت به لأضحى

فلو أني ظفرت به لأضحى

خَلوقاً بين سالفتي وجيدي

خَلوقاً بين سالفتي وجيدي

Had I but obtained it, it would have become

And if I could obtain it, it would become

khalūq perfume between the side of my neck and my throat.

saffron perfume between the side of my neck and my throat.

عجبت لساعدٍ يُدميه لحظي

عجبت لساعدٍ يُدميه لحظي

ويقوَى أن يُباشَرَ بالحديدِ

ويقوَى أن يُباشَرَ بالحديدِ

I marvel at a forearm that my glance can make bleed,

I marveled at an arm that my glance makes bleed,

yet is strong enough to meet the iron blade.

yet can withstand being touched with iron.