وعدت بأن تزوري بعد شهرٍ

وعدت بأن تزوري بعد شهرٍ

فزوري قد تقضى الشهر زوري

فزوري قد تقضى الشهر زوري

You promised that you would visit after a month.

You promised to visit after a month

So visit—the month has already passed—visit!

So visit, for the month may pass, visit me

وموعد بيننا نهر المعلى

وموعد بيننا نهر المعلى

الى البلد المسمى شهر زور

الى البلد المسمى شهر زور

And our rendezvous is Nahr al-Muʿallā,

And between us is an appointment at Ma'la River

to the town called Shahr Zūr.

To the town called Shahrzur

فخدود مصافحات خدوداً

فخدود مصافحات خدوداً

ولكن شهر وصلك شهرزور

ولكن شهر وصلك شهرزور

Then cheeks clasp cheeks,

So cheeks slap cheeks in greeting

but the month of union with you is Shahr Zūr—a month of falsehood.

But a month of your arrival is a month of falsehood