لو تَخيَّرتُ ما هَوِيتُ ولو مُلّ

لو تَخيَّرتُ ما هَوِيتُ ولو مُلّ

كتُ أمري عرفتُ وجهَ الصواب

كتُ أمري عرفتُ وجهَ الصواب

Had I had any choice, I would not have loved; and had I been made master—

Had I chosen freely, I would not have loved; and had I been granted

—of my own fate, I would have known the path of right.

control of my affairs, I would have known the right course.

لم يشنها استحالةُ اللون عندي

لم يشنها استحالةُ اللون عندي

أنها صبغة كلون الشباب

أنها صبغة كلون الشباب

Its change of color did not mar it in my eyes:

The change of color did not mar her in my eyes;

for it is but a dye, like the color of youth.

for it is a tint like the color of youth.