باللّهِ يا ريحُ إن مُكِّنْتِ ثانيةً

باللّهِ يا ريحُ إن مُكِّنْتِ ثانيةً

من صُدغِه فأقيمي فيه واستترِي

من صُدغِه فأقيمي فيه واستترِي

By God, O wind, if you are once more granted access

I implore you, O breeze, if you're able once more

To his temple-lock, then stay there and hide yourself.

To reach his cheek, then linger there and hide.

وراقبي غفلةً منهُ لتنتهزِي

وراقبي غفلةً منهُ لتنتهزِي

لي فُرصةً وتعودي منه بالظَّفَرِ

لي فُرصةً وتعودي منه بالظَّفَرِ

And watch for his inattention, so you may seize

Watch closely then for a moment of neglect to seize

A chance for me, and return from him in triumph.

An opportunity for me, and with bounty provide.

وباكرِي وِرْدَ عذبٍ من مُقَبَّلِهِ

وباكرِي وِرْدَ عذبٍ من مُقَبَّلِهِ

مقابل الطعمِ بين الطِيبِ والخَصرِ

مقابل الطعمِ بين الطِيبِ والخَصرِ

And seek at dawn a draught of sweet water from his lips,

Make haste at dawn, and take from his sweet lips

Its flavor balanced between fragrance and coolness.

A tender kiss, a taste mid perfume and waist.

وإن قَدَرتِ على تشويشِ طُرَّتِه

وإن قَدَرتِ على تشويشِ طُرَّتِه

فشوِّشِيها ولا تُبقي ولا تَذَرِي

فشوِّشِيها ولا تُبقي ولا تَذَرِي

And if you can tousle his forelock,

And if you can disrupt his composure,

Then tousle it; spare nothing and leave nothing untouched.

Then do so, leave nothing, no trace.

ولا تَمَسِّي عِذاريهِ فتفتضحِي

ولا تَمَسِّي عِذاريهِ فتفتضحِي

بنفجةِ المِسْكِ بين الوِرْدِ والصَّدَرِ

بنفجةِ المِسْكِ بين الوِرْدِ والصَّدَرِ

And do not touch his sideburns, lest you be exposed

Do not touch his chastity, lest you expose

By a waft of musk between coming to the water and leaving it.

The musk's burst 'twixt rose and chest.

ثم اسلُكي بين بُرْدَيْهِ على عَجَلٍ

ثم اسلُكي بين بُرْدَيْهِ على عَجَلٍ

واستبضعي الطيب وأْتِيني على قَدَرِ

واستبضعي الطيب وأْتِيني على قَدَرِ

Then slip between his two cloaks in haste,

Then slip between his arms in hurried pace

And take perfume as your wares, and come to me at the proper time.

And steal the scent, bring it to me no less.

ونبِّهينيَ دون القوم وانتفضي

ونبِّهينيَ دون القوم وانتفضي

عليَّ واللّيلُ في شكٍّ من السَّحَرِ

عليَّ واللّيلُ في شكٍّ من السَّحَرِ

And wake me, not the others, and shake yourself out

Wake me before the others, stir,

Over me, while night is still in doubt about dawn.

And rustle over me while night is unsure of dawn.

لعلَّ نفحةَ طِيْبٍ منكِ ثانيةً

لعلَّ نفحةَ طِيْبٍ منكِ ثانيةً

تقضِي لُبانةَ قلبٍ عاقِرِ الوطرِ

تقضِي لُبانةَ قلبٍ عاقِرِ الوطرِ

Perhaps another waft of fragrance from you

Maybe a whiff of perfume from you once more

Will satisfy the longing of a heart whose desires bear no fruit.

Can fulfill the barren longing of a heart forlorn.