قمرa moon بديرat the monastery of الموصلMosul الأعلىthe upper
قمر بدير الموصل الأعلى
أناI عبدهhis slave وهواهand love for him ليto me مولىa master
أنا عبده وهواه لي مولى
A moon at Mosul's upper monastery;
The full moon over Mosul’s highest minaret
I am his slave, and love for him is my master.
I am his slave, his love is my master
لثمhe kissed الصليبthe cross فقلتso I said منout of حسدenvy
لثم الصليب فقلت من حسد
قبلkisses الحبيبthe beloved فميmy mouth بهاto them أولىmore entitled
قبل الحبيب فمي بها أولى
He kissed the cross, so I said in envy:
I kissed the cross, so they said out of envy:
The beloved's kisses—my mouth has a better claim to them!
Better my mouth kiss the Beloved
فاحمرso he blushed منfrom خجلembarrassment وكمand how often قطفتplucked
فاحمر من خجل وكم قطفت
عينيmy eye شقائقanemones وجنةa cheek خجلىbashful
عيني شقائق وجنة خجلى
So he blushed in embarrassment—and how often has
My face turned red with shyness - how often
My eye plucked anemones from a bashful cheek!
Have my eyes plucked marigolds from my garden of shame
Sol 6.1