أحسنُlovelier منthan يومthe day of الشعانينPalm Sunday
أحسنُ من يوم الشعانين
ونعتِand the description of أعيادِthe feasts of الملاعينthe accursed ones
ونعتِ أعيادِ الملاعين
Lovelier than Palm Sunday
Better than the day of palms,
Far lovelier than the day of Palm Sunday,
And the description of the accursed ones' feasts
And festivals of the cursed,
And the festivals that the accursed display,
تفّاحةٌan apple بينamong الرياحينthe fragrant herbs
تفّاحةٌ بين الرياحين
فيin مجلسa gathering of العجمthe Persians الدهاقينthe landowners
في مجلس العجم الدهاقين
Is an apple among fragrant herbs
Is an apple amid the meadows
Is an apple nestled amidst sweet basil,
In a gathering of Persian landowners.
In an assembly of eloquent Persians.
In the council where Persian squires hold sway.
حمراءُred كالنارlike fire ولكنّهاand yet it
حمراءُ كالنار ولكنّها
قُبلةُa kiss from أحبابٍloved ones ميامينblessed
قُبلةُ أحبابٍ ميامين
Red as fire, and yet it is
Red like fire, yet it is
Red as the fire, yet in truth it is
A kiss from blessed loved ones.
A kiss of beloved friends.
A kiss of lovers, blessed in their bliss.
ماnot شانهاhas marred it عضٍّa bite وقدand indeed صيّرتit has been made
ما شانها عضٍّ وقد صيّرت
ليfor me نخبةًa choice selection دونin place of الرياحينthe fragrant herbs
لي نخبةً دون الرياحين
No bite has marred it, and it has been made
Why does it bite when it has made
No bite disgraced it, for it has turned
My choice in place of the fragrant herbs.
For me a choice beyond meadows?
My chosen prize, leaving the basil spurned.
Sol 6.1