بنَفْسي حبيبٌ هوَّن البُعدَ طَيفُهُ

بنَفْسي حبيبٌ هوَّن البُعدَ طَيفُهُ

عليّ ولكنْ نغَّص القُرْبَ صَدُّهُ

عليّ ولكنْ نغَّص القُرْبَ صَدُّهُ

My soul be ransom for a beloved whose phantom made distance easy

I would give my life for a beloved whose phantom eased separation

for me, though his rebuff made nearness bitter.

For me, yet his rejection embittered nearness.

ومُستهزئٌ في الحُسْنِ بالبدرِ وجهُه

ومُستهزئٌ في الحُسْنِ بالبدرِ وجهُه

ومُستهزئٌ في الطّيبِ بالورْد خَدُّه

ومُستهزئٌ في الطّيبِ بالورْد خَدُّه

And one whose face, in beauty, mocks the full moon;

And his face mocks the full moon in beauty;

whose cheek, in fragrance, mocks the rose;

And his cheek mocks the rose in fragrance;

وبالمِسْك صُدْغاه وبالدُّرِّ ثَغْرُه

وبالمِسْك صُدْغاه وبالدُّرِّ ثَغْرُه

وبالظّبْي عَيناه وبالخُوط قَدُّه

وبالظّبْي عَيناه وبالخُوط قَدُّه

whose sidelocks mock musk, whose mouth mocks pearls;

And his sidelocks mock musk, and his mouth pearls;

whose eyes mock the gazelle, whose stature mocks the supple bough.

And his eyes mock the gazelle, and his stature the slender shoot.