يا أَيُّها الرَشَأُ الأَغَنُّ الأَهيفُ

يا أَيُّها الرَشَأُ الأَغَنُّ الأَهيفُ

هل للمُتَيَّمِ مِن صُدودِكَ مُنصِفُ

هل للمُتَيَّمِ مِن صُدودِكَ مُنصِفُ

O you sweet-voiced, slender-waisted young gazelle!

O you the most lyrical, eloquent bard

Is there anyone to give the lovelorn justice against your rejection?

Is there any justice in your rhythms for the lover?

فأبِح لَنا ذاك المُحيّا إِنَّهُ

فأبِح لَنا ذاك المُحيّا إِنَّهُ

بَدرٌ سَيَلحَقُهُ المِحاقُ وَيَكسِفُ

بَدرٌ سَيَلحَقُهُ المِحاقُ وَيَكسِفُ

So let us behold that face, for it is

So reveal to us that shining moon, for it

A full moon that will be overtaken by waning and be eclipsed,

Is a full moon soon to be joined and then eclipsed

مِن قَبلِ عَسكَرِ عارِضٍ يَمحو الهَوى

مِن قَبلِ عَسكَرِ عارِضٍ يَمحو الهَوى

فَتَظَلُّ مِن نُكرٍ لِشَعرِك تَنتِفُ

فَتَظَلُّ مِن نُكرٍ لِشَعرِك تَنتِفُ

Before an army of cheek-hair wipes away desire,

By an opposing army that will erase desire

Then, in disgust at your hair, you will keep plucking it out.

And so by indifference, your poetry will be picked apart