جاءت بمعمولة من جنس قامتها

جاءت بمعمولة من جنس قامتها

لينا وفي كفها من خدها قبس

لينا وفي كفها من خدها قبس

She came with a fashioned thing, like her own figure

She came with a creation of her own stature

In suppleness—and in her palm, a flame from her cheek.

Soft and in her palm a glow from her cheek

حتى إذا قربت من ذيل صاحبها

حتى إذا قربت من ذيل صاحبها

أصغى إلى سرها والرأس منتكس

أصغى إلى سرها والرأس منتكس

Until, when she drew near her companion’s hem,

Until when she drew near the train of her companion

He bent to hear her secret, his head bowed.

He inclined unto her secret, his head bowed down

فنم بينهما ما كان مكتتما

فنم بينهما ما كان مكتتما

ما نمه اللفظ لكن نمه النفس

ما نمه اللفظ لكن نمه النفس

Then what had been concealed between them was revealed:

Then slept between them what had been hidden

It was not speech that revealed it, but breath.

Not put to sleep by words, but by the soul