جَلَّنارٌ أم شَقيقُ

جَلَّنارٌ أم شَقيقُ

وَجْنَتاهُ أم عَقيقُ

وَجْنَتاهُ أم عَقيقُ

Pomegranate blossoms or anemones?

Is it a spark or saffron,

His cheeks, or carnelian?

his cheeks or carnelian?

وسيوفٌ أم جُفون

وسيوفٌ أم جُفون

تلك أم خَمرٌ عَتيقُ

تلك أم خَمرٌ عَتيقُ

And swords, or eyelids—

Swords or eyelids -

are those, or aged wine?

which are they; wine or perfume?

بَرَدٌ في الفَم أمْ ثَغْ

بَرَدٌ في الفَم أمْ ثَغْ

رٌ وريقٌ أم رَحيقُ

رٌ وريقٌ أم رَحيقُ

Hailstones in the mouth, or teeth—

Is it ice in my mouth or dew,

and saliva, or nectar?

foliage or nectar that I drink?

غُصنُ بانٍ ماس في البُرْ

غُصنُ بانٍ ماس في البُرْ

دَة أم قدٌّ رشيقُ

دَة أم قدٌّ رشيقُ

A bān-tree branch swaying in the cloak—

A bough of myrrh in my cloak

or a graceful figure?

or a slender, erect form?

رَشَأٌ كلَّفني في

رَشَأٌ كلَّفني في

حُبِّه ما لا أُطيقُ

حُبِّه ما لا أُطيقُ

A young gazelle has burdened me, in

Desire for him burdened me

loving him, with more than I can bear.

with more than I can bear.

فكأني وهَواهُ

فكأني وهَواهُ

رِدْفُه الخصرُ الدقيقُ

رِدْفُه الخصرُ الدقيقُ

So it is as though I—with love for him

So it seems I ride behind him,

as his rump—were the slender waist.

clasped by his slender waist.