وَغادَةٍ لَوْ رَأَتْها الَّشْمُس ما طَلَعَتْ

وَغادَةٍ لَوْ رَأَتْها الَّشْمُس ما طَلَعَتْ

وَالرّيمُ أَغْضَى وَخُوطُ البانِ لَمْ يَمِسِ

وَالرّيمُ أَغْضَى وَخُوطُ البانِ لَمْ يَمِسِ

And a graceful maiden—had the sun seen her, it would not have risen;

If the sun had seen her, it wouldn't have risen,

And the gazelle would have lowered its gaze, and the bān-tree shoot would not have swayed.

And the sand turned pale, and necklace threads untouched.

عانَقْتُها بِرِداءِ اللَّيْلِ مشْتَمِلاً

عانَقْتُها بِرِداءِ اللَّيْلِ مشْتَمِلاً

حَتّى انْتَبَهْتُ بِبَرْدِ الحَلْي في الغَلَسِ

حَتّى انْتَبَهْتُ بِبَرْدِ الحَلْي في الغَلَسِ

I embraced her, wrapped in the cloak of night,

I embraced her in the night's gown, huddled together,

Until the chill of her jewelry woke me in the predawn darkness.

Until I awoke to the chill of her cheekbones in the darkness.

فَبِتُّ أَحْمِيهِ خَوْفاً أَنْ يُنَبِّهَها

فَبِتُّ أَحْمِيهِ خَوْفاً أَنْ يُنَبِّهَها

وَأَتَّقِي أَنْ أُذيبَ العِقْدَ بِالنَّفَسِ

وَأَتَّقِي أَنْ أُذيبَ العِقْدَ بِالنَّفَسِ

So I spent the night warming it, afraid it might wake her,

So I protect her, fearing to wake her,

And I took care not to melt the necklace with my breath.

And avoid melting the pearls with my breath.