وَذي غَنَجٍ يَأوي إِلى فَرعِهِ الدُجى

وَذي غَنَجٍ يَأوي إِلى فَرعِهِ الدُجى

وَلَكِنَّها عَن وَجهِهِ تَتَفَرَّجُ

وَلَكِنَّها عَن وَجهِهِ تَتَفَرَّجُ

And one of coy allure, in whose locks darkness takes refuge,

With boughs that shelter, where the gloom falls deep,

and yet it draws away from his face.

Yet o'er his face she casts a sidelong peep.

فَفيهِ ظَلامٌ بِالصَباحِ مُعَمَّمٌ

فَفيهِ ظَلامٌ بِالصَباحِ مُعَمَّمٌ

وَفيهِ صَباحٌ بِالظَلامِ مُتَوَّجُ

وَفيهِ صَباحٌ بِالظَلامِ مُتَوَّجُ

For in him is darkness turbaned with morning,

Though dark the dawn, his brow a morning shows,

and in him is morning crowned with darkness.

Though dark the eve, a morn his visage glows.

يَروقُ سُلَيمى مِنكَ جَعدٌ مُسَلسَلٌ

يَروقُ سُلَيمى مِنكَ جَعدٌ مُسَلسَلٌ

وَيُسليكَ مِنها أَقحَوانٌ مُفَلَّجُ

وَيُسليكَ مِنها أَقحَوانٌ مُفَلَّجُ

Your curls, linked like a chain, delight Sulayma,

From thy smooth cheek I see a tress that strays,

and her daisy-white, spaced teeth bring you solace.

While down thy neck the ringlets loosely plays.

وَفَرعُكَ مِن صَبغِ الشَبابِ مُمَسَّكٌ

وَفَرعُكَ مِن صَبغِ الشَبابِ مُمَسَّكٌ

وَخَدُّكَ مِن ماءِ الجَمالِ مُضَرَّجُ

وَخَدُّكَ مِن ماءِ الجَمالِ مُضَرَّجُ

And your locks are musk-dark with the dye of youth,

Thy branch with youthful green is fully decked,

and your cheek is flushed with beauty's water.

Thy cheeks with beauty's living waters flecked.

وَوَجهُكَ مِثلُ الرَوضِ يَغسِلُهُ الحَيا

وَوَجهُكَ مِثلُ الرَوضِ يَغسِلُهُ الحَيا

تُمَشِّطُهُ أَيدي الرِياحِ فَيَبهَجُ

تُمَشِّطُهُ أَيدي الرِياحِ فَيَبهَجُ

And your face is like a meadow washed by rain;

Thy face resembles meadows fresh with rain,

the hands of the winds comb it, and it grows lovely.

Combed by the winds till smiles break forth again.