نِكنا رسولَ عنانٍ

نِكنا رسولَ عنانٍ

والرأي فيما فعلنا

والرأي فيما فعلنا

We fucked ʿInān’s messenger,

We were the messengers of reinless steeds

We fucked the messenger of Inan,

and sound judgment lay in what we did.

And we did as we thought fit;

And right was the judgment in what we did;

وكان خبزاً بملح

وكان خبزاً بملح

قبل الشواءِ أكلنا

قبل الشواءِ أكلنا

It was bread with salt

It was bread with salt

She was merely bread and salt,

that we ate before the roast.

Ere roasting we did eat.

Which we devoured before the roast.

جذبتُها فتحانَت

جذبتُها فتحانَت

كالغصن لمّا تثنّى

كالغصن لمّا تثنّى

I pulled her, and she bent,

I drew her to me till she was flexible

I drew her close and she inclined,

like a branch when it swayed.

As bough when it is bent.

Pliant as a branch when it sways.

فقلتُ ليس على ذي

فقلتُ ليس على ذي

الفعالِ كنّا افترقنا

الفعالِ كنّا افترقنا

So I said, 'It was not on these

Then said I, "Not for him

I said, "It was not upon such"

terms that we had parted.'

Of evil deeds were we parted."

"Deeds that we had parted ways."

قالت فكم تتجنّى

قالت فكم تتجنّى

طوّلتَ نِكنا ودعنا

طوّلتَ نِكنا ودعنا

She said, 'How you keep finding fault without cause!

She said, "How long wilt thou be coy

She said, "How much you seek to blame!"

You've dragged this out—fuck us and leave us!'

And lengthen out our farewell?"

"You tarry too long—fuck us and be done!"