هويت خياليا حكى الغصن قده

هويت خياليا حكى الغصن قده

إذا ما انثنى هاجت عليه البلابل

إذا ما انثنى هاجت عليه البلابل

I fell for an ethereal beloved whose stature resembled a bough;

I fell in love with a shadow-player whose stature resembled a bough.

whenever he swayed, the nightingales stirred around him.

Whenever he swayed, the nightingales were stirred by him.

وفي كسر ذاك الجفن صحة ما أتى

وفي كسر ذاك الجفن صحة ما أتى

به سحر هاروت وضمته بابل

به سحر هاروت وضمته بابل

And in the languid droop of that eyelid is proof of what

And in that eyelid’s droop lies confirmation of what was brought forth

the magic of Harut brought forth and Babylon held.

By Harut’s magic and embraced by Babylon.

أراق دم العشاق سيف جفونه

أراق دم العشاق سيف جفونه

ومن بعد ذا أضحى عليهم يخايل

ومن بعد ذا أضحى عليهم يخايل

The sword of his eyelids spilled the lovers’ blood;

The sword of his eyelids spilled the lovers’ blood.

and after that, he began to strut proudly before them.

And after that, he began showing off before them.