أشكو لذي الإحسانِ عبد المحسِنِ

أشكو لذي الإحسانِ عبد المحسِنِ

فلعلهُ يرثي لما قد مسني

فلعلهُ يرثي لما قد مسني

I complain to the benevolent Abd al-Muhsin,

I complain to the one of kindness, Abdel Mohsin

so perhaps he will pity what has afflicted me.

Perhaps he will sympathize with what has befallen me

إني شعفتُ بدله ودلاله

إني شعفتُ بدله ودلاله

وبحسنِ منظره وإن لم يحسنِ

وبحسنِ منظره وإن لم يحسنِ

I am smitten with his coyness and his coquetry,

I am enchanted by his charm and allure

and with his beautiful appearance, even if he shows no kindness.

And by the beauty of his appearance, even if he is not beautiful

ظبيٌ غريرُ الحُسنِ طُرَّزَ خدَّهُ

ظبيٌ غريرُ الحُسنِ طُرَّزَ خدَّهُ

بالجلنار وغضَّ نورَ السوسنِ

بالجلنار وغضَّ نورَ السوسنِ

A gazelle of innocent beauty, his cheek embroidered

A delicate gazelle, the epitome of beauty, his cheek adorned

with pomegranate blossom and the lily’s tender bloom.

With anemones, outshining the radiance of lilies

ريمٌ حوى ظرفاً وحُسناً جامِعاً

ريمٌ حوى ظرفاً وحُسناً جامِعاً

نطَقَت بما يَحوي جَميعُ الألسُنِ

نطَقَت بما يَحوي جَميعُ الألسُنِ

A white gazelle possessing grace and beauty together—

A graceful one, embodying charm and perfection

all tongues have spoken of what he possesses.

Her words express what all tongues contain

فعساه يرحَمُ لوعتي وصبابتي

فعساه يرحَمُ لوعتي وصبابتي

ويسيرُ بالإِحسانِ عبدُ المُحسِنِ

ويسيرُ بالإِحسانِ عبدُ المُحسِنِ

So may he pity my anguish and my yearning,

May he then have mercy on my suffering and my love

and may Abd al-Muhsin conduct himself with kindness.

And treat with kindness, Abdel Mohsin