أَيا وَرداً عَلى غُصنِ

أَيا وَرداً عَلى غُصنِ

بِكَرِّ اللَحظِ يَلقُطُهُ

بِكَرِّ اللَحظِ يَلقُطُهُ

Ah, a rose upon a branch—

O rose upon a branch,

the sweep of a glance plucks him;

Plucked by the gaze's repeated return,

وَرُمّاناً عَلى فَنَنٍ

وَرُمّاناً عَلى فَنَنٍ

يَكادُ المَشيُ يُسقِطُهُ

يَكادُ المَشيُ يُسقِطُهُ

and a pomegranate upon a bough—

And pomegranates upon a bough,

walking almost makes him fall.

Which walking almost makes fall:

أَتى وَالبَدرُ يَحسُدُهُ

أَتى وَالبَدرُ يَحسُدُهُ

وَشَمسُ الدَجنِ تَغبِطُهُ

وَشَمسُ الدَجنِ تَغبِطُهُ

He came—the full moon envying him,

He came, while the full moon envies him,

and the cloud-veiled sun regarding him with admiring envy;

And the sun of the clouded sky envies his good fortune;

وَخَوفُ الناسِ يَقبِضُهُ

وَخَوفُ الناسِ يَقبِضُهُ

وَحُبُّ الوَصلِ يَبسُطُهُ

وَحُبُّ الوَصلِ يَبسُطُهُ

fear of people draws him inward,

And fear of people restrains him,

and love of union opens him out.

And love of union emboldens him.