مُتَّyou died بالشعرfrom hair ياO غلامlad فأضحىand so there came to be
مُتَّ بالشعر يا غلام فأضحى
فوقupon خديكyour two cheeks منكرٌMunkar ونكيرُand Nakir
فوق خديك منكرٌ ونكيرُ
You died of hair, lad, and now
Die young, O boy, and so become
Upon your cheeks are Munkar and Nakir.
Above your cheeks, a Munkar and Nakir.
إنif يكنit is موضعَat the place of اللثامkissing قليلاًscant
إن يكن موضعَ اللثام قليلاً
فهوthen it فيin موضعthe place of المنالaccess; touching كثيرُplentiful
فهو في موضع المنال كثيرُ
If it is scant where one kisses,
If the place of the veil be small,
It is plentiful where one touches.
Yet is it, for being attained, greater.
وكذاكand likewise الكتابthe book عنوانهits title سطline (opening fragment)
وكذاك الكتاب عنوانه سط
رٌline (closing fragment) وفيand in طَيِّهits folds الخفِيِّhidden سطورُlines
رٌ وفي طَيِّه الخفِيِّ سطورُ
Likewise, a book: its title is one lin—
Just so the title of a book is plain,
—e, while in its hidden folds lie many lines.
But in its folds strange sentences lie hid.
Sol 6.1