وَقَفَتْني ما بَيْنَ هَمٍّ وبوسِ

وَقَفَتْني ما بَيْنَ هَمٍّ وبوسِ

وثَنَتْ بَعْدَ ضِحْكَة بِعُبوسِ

وثَنَتْ بَعْدَ ضِحْكَة بِعُبوسِ

She held me between sorrow and misery,

She stopped me midway between anxiety and a kiss,

and followed a laugh with a frown.

And after a laugh, turned to a frown.

ورَأَتْني مَشَّطْتُ عاجاً بِعاجٍ

ورَأَتْني مَشَّطْتُ عاجاً بِعاجٍ

وهي الآَبُنوسُ بالآَبنوسِ

وهي الآَبُنوسُ بالآَبنوسِ

And she saw me comb ivory with ivory,

She saw me comb ivory with ivory,

while she was ebony with ebony.

While she is ebony with ebony.