يقول لي المفتي وهن عشية

يقول لي المفتي وهن عشية

بمكة يرمحنَ المهدَّبةَ السُحلا

بمكة يرمحنَ المهدَّبةَ السُحلا

The mufti says to me, while at dusk they

The jurist said to me one evening in Mecca,

In Mecca kick against their fringed white robes:

As the trimmed camels were passing by.

تق اللَه لا تنظر إليهن يا فتى

تق اللَه لا تنظر إليهن يا فتى

وما خلتني في الحج ملتمساً وصلا

وما خلتني في الحج ملتمساً وصلا

“Fear God; do not gaze at them, young man.”

“Fear God, do not look at them, O youth!

And I had not thought myself seeking intimacy on pilgrimage.

And I did not let them distract me from worship during the Hajj."

قطاف الخطا ملتفة ربلاتها

قطاف الخطا ملتفة ربلاتها

وما اللف أفخاذاً بتاركة عقلا

وما اللف أفخاذاً بتاركة عقلا

Short-stepping, their fleshy thighs pressed close together—

With their anklets wrapped, dragging their robes,

And full-thighed women leave no reason intact.

Not concealing their ankles thereby showing little modesty.

فواللَه ما أنسى وإن شَطت النوى

فواللَه ما أنسى وإن شَطت النوى

عرانينهن الشم والحدق النجلا

عرانينهن الشم والحدق النجلا

So, by God, I do not forget, though separation stretches far,

By God, I will not forget, though years have passed,

Their high-bridged noses and their wide eyes,

Their bare shins glittering like swords unsheathed.

ولا المسك من أردافهن ولا البرى

ولا المسك من أردافهن ولا البرى

جواعل في ماذيها قصبا حدلا

جواعل في ماذيها قصبا حدلا

Nor the musk from their buttocks, nor the anklets,

Nor the musk scent from their breasts, nor the coolness

As they place their curving shins within the anklets’ gleaming metal.

Of their slender waists, like straight hollow reeds.