وجُلّناريّةٍ مسكيَّةِ النَفسِ

وجُلّناريّةٍ مسكيَّةِ النَفسِ

كأنّها جذوةً في كفِّ مُقتَبسِ

كأنّها جذوةً في كفِّ مُقتَبسِ

And a pomegranate blossom, musky-breathed,

And a pomegranate-blossom-red one, with musk-scented breath,

With cheeks aflame and breath sweet as musk -

as though she were a glowing ember in the hand of one seeking flame,

As though she were a glowing firebrand in a fire-borrower’s palm.

Like embers clutched in a kindler's hand -

قد أُشرِبَت من صباغ اللَه حمرتها

قد أُشرِبَت من صباغ اللَه حمرتها

كأنّها غُرَّةٌ أوفَت على لَعَسِ

كأنّها غُرَّةٌ أوفَت على لَعَسِ

her redness steeped in a dye from God,

She has been suffused with redness from God’s dye,

Her cheeks are dyed the hue God lends the rose,

as though she were a bright brow rising above dusky lips—

As though she were a fair brow rising above dusky lips.

As though a ripe pomegranate freshly split -

كريمةٌ من بناتِ الفَرعِ ما حَضَرت

كريمةٌ من بناتِ الفَرعِ ما حَضَرت

إِلّا وحضت على اللذّاتِ والأنُس

إِلّا وحضت على اللذّاتِ والأنُس

a noble daughter of the bough: whenever she appeared,

A noble daughter of the bough, she never appeared

A lovely daughter of the vine, who comes

she could not but urge delight and conviviality.

Without urging pleasures and conviviality.

Only to stir delights and fellowship -

حافت فنكَّستُها لما كلفتُ بها

حافت فنكَّستُها لما كلفتُ بها

فان دعوتُ اجابت باسم منتكس

فان دعوتُ اجابت باسم منتكس

She acted unjustly—ḥāfat—so, when I fell for her, I reversed her letters;

She was unjust, so I inverted her when I fell in love with her;

I plucked her, then neglected her; reproached,

then, if I called, she answered to the reversed name tuffāḥ—“apple.”

And if I called, she answered to a reversed name.

If summoned now, she answers in dismay.