ياO صَفوَتيmy chosen one مِنَamong البَشَرِhumankind
يا صَفوَتي مِنَ البَشَرِ
ياO كَوكَباًa star بَلrather ياO قَمَرْmoon
يا كَوكَباً بَل يا قَمَرْ
O my chosen one among humankind,
O essence of humanity,
O star—rather, O moon!
O star or rather, o moon,
أَياO غُصناa bough إِذاwhen مَشىwalks
أَيا غُصنا إِذا مَشى
ياO رَشأa gazelle fawn إِذاwhen نَظَرْgazes
يا رَشأ إِذا نَظَرْ
O bough when you walk,
O branch, when it walks,
O gazelle fawn when you gaze!
O gazelle, when it looks,
ياO نَفسbreath الرَوضَةthe garden قَدalready
يا نَفس الرَوضَة قَد
هَبَّتhas blown لَهاfor it ريحُa breeze سَحَرْthe hour before dawn
هَبَّت لَها ريحُ سَحَرْ
O breath of the garden, now that
O soul of the garden that
a predawn breeze has blown through it!
the morning breeze has stirred,
ياO رَبةَmistress of اللحظِthe glance الَّذيthat
يا رَبةَ اللحظِ الَّذي
شَدَّtightened وثاقاًa bond إِذwhen فَتَرْgrew languid
شَدَّ وثاقاً إِذ فَتَرْ
O mistress of the glance that
O lady of the glance that
tightened a bond even as it grew languid!
captivated when loosened,
مَتىwhen أُداويI heal ياO فَداa ransom for
مَتى أُداوي يا فَدا
كِyou (feminine) السمعhearing مِنّيof mine وَالبَصَرْand sight
كِ السمع مِنّي وَالبَصَرْ
When shall I heal—oh, may
When will I heal, o ransomed one,
my hearing and sight be your ransom—
my hearing of you and sight?
ماwhat بِفُؤاديin my heart منof جَوىًburning anguish
ما بِفُؤادي من جَوىً
بِماwith what بِفيكin your mouth منof خصَرْcoolness
بِما بِفيك من خصَرْ
the burning anguish in my heart
In my heart no ardour is
with the coolness in your mouth?
like your slender waist's ardour.
Sol 6.1