قلت يوماً لمن تمنطق بالزنّار

قلت يوماً لمن تمنطق بالزنّار

فوق المبيّضاتِ الرقاقِ

فوق المبيّضاتِ الرقاقِ

I said one day to one who had girded himself with a zunnar belt

I once said to the one with a slender waist,

over thin white garments:

Above the delicate, thin fabric:

ما أرى انّ في الخلائق شبهاً

ما أرى انّ في الخلائق شبهاً

لكَ في حُسنِ صنعةِ الخلاقِ

لكَ في حُسنِ صنعةِ الخلاقِ

“I see no equal among created beings

I see no one in creation that resembles you

to you in the beauty of the Creator’s handiwork.

In the Creator's skillful handiwork.

لك مما فعلت من قدك الممشوق

لك مما فعلت من قدك الممشوق

غصناً يطيب عند العناقِ

غصناً يطيب عند العناقِ

You have, from what you have fashioned of your slender figure,

You have, from your erect stature,

a bough delightful to embrace.”

A branch that smells sweet in an embrace.

فانثنى ضاحكاً وقال أما تَسمَعُ

فانثنى ضاحكاً وقال أما تَسمَعُ

ما قد يقول أهلُ العراقِ

ما قد يقول أهلُ العراقِ

Then he turned, laughing, and said, “Do you not hear

He laughed and said: But do you not hear

what the people of Iraq sometimes say?

What the people of Iraq say?

كلّ ما لم تذقه من قصب السُكَّر

كلّ ما لم تذقه من قصب السُكَّر

لم يَحلُ طعمُهُ في المذاق

لم يَحلُ طعمُهُ في المذاق

Any sugarcane you have not tasted

All sugar cane you have not tasted

has not tasted sweet upon the palate.”

Its flavor is not made lawful to the taste.