واسْتَمِعْها أَرَقَّ مِنْ وَرَقِ الوَّرْ

واسْتَمِعْها أَرَقَّ مِنْ وَرَقِ الوَّرْ

دِ وأَنْدَى مِنْ ياسَمينٍ مُنَدّى

دِ وأَنْدَى مِنْ ياسَمينٍ مُنَدّى

And listen to it, more delicate than rose petals,

Listen to it, softer than rose petals

and dewier than dew-moistened jasmine,

And more dewy than jasmine in bloom,

بِمَعانٍ لَوْ أَنَّهُنَّ خُدُودٌ

بِمَعانٍ لَوْ أَنَّهُنَّ خُدُودٌ

كُنَّ في الحُسْنِ جُلَّناراً وَوَرْدَا

كُنَّ في الحُسْنِ جُلَّناراً وَوَرْدَا

with meanings that, if they were cheeks,

With meanings that, were they cheeks,

would be pomegranate blossoms and roses in beauty.

Would be in beauty a narcissus and a rose,

لَوْ هَجَوْنا بِها المَنونَ لَدَلَّتْ

لَوْ هَجَوْنا بِها المَنونَ لَدَلَّتْ

أَوْ مَدَحْنا بِها الزَّمانَ لأَجْدى

أَوْ مَدَحْنا بِها الزَّمانَ لأَجْدى

If we lampooned Death with it, she would grow coy,

Were we to satirize oblivion with them it would melt away

or praised Time with it, it would give generously.

Or were we to praise time with them it would be kinder.