كَلَّمتُهُ فَاصفَرَّ مِن خَجَلٍ

كَلَّمتُهُ فَاصفَرَّ مِن خَجَلٍ

حَتَّى اكتَسَى بِالعَسجَدِ الوَرِقُ

حَتَّى اكتَسَى بِالعَسجَدِ الوَرِقُ

I spoke to him, and he turned yellow with embarrassment,

I spoke to him and he blushed with embarrassment

until the silver was clothed in gold.

Until he was covered in bright green leaves

وَسَألتُهُ تَقبِيلَ رَاحَتِهِ

وَسَألتُهُ تَقبِيلَ رَاحَتِهِ

فَأبَى وقَالَ أخَافُ أحتَرِقُ

فَأبَى وقَالَ أخَافُ أحتَرِقُ

And I asked him to let me kiss his palm;

And I asked to kiss his palm

but he refused and said, “I fear I will burn.”

But he refused and said, I fear I'll catch fire

حتَّى زَفِيرِي عَاقَ عِن أمَلِي

حتَّى زَفِيرِي عَاقَ عِن أمَلِي

إِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ بِرِيقِهِ شَرِقُ

إِنَّ الشَّقِيَّ بِرِيقِهِ شَرِقُ

Even my sigh kept me from my hope:

Until my sigh betrayed my hope

indeed, the unfortunate man chokes on his own saliva.

Indeed the wretch with his saliva ignited