وَمُهفهف لعب الدلال بعطفه

وَمُهفهف لعب الدلال بعطفه

وَرَمى القُلوب بِصارم مِن طَرفه

وَرَمى القُلوب بِصارم مِن طَرفه

And a slender youth—coquetry played upon his flank,

The charmer playfully dangles his bait,

And he struck hearts with a sharp sword from his gaze.

And pierces hearts with arrows from his quiver.

عَجَباً لَهُ يَحكي الحَديد فُؤاده

عَجَباً لَهُ يَحكي الحَديد فُؤاده

وَالماء في حسن الصَفاء وَلطفه

وَالماء في حسن الصَفاء وَلطفه

How wondrous he is! His heart resembles iron,

How wondrous his heart tells tales of iron,

Yet he resembles water in lovely clarity and delicacy.

While water flows with beauty and gentleness.

عانقته وَشَمَمت مِن وَجناته

عانقته وَشَمَمت مِن وَجناته

وَرَد الرَبيع مدثراً في ظرفه

وَرَد الرَبيع مدثراً في ظرفه

I embraced him and breathed in, from his cheeks,

I embraced him and smelled the roses of his cheeks,

The roses of spring, wrapped in his grace.

Spring blossoms tucked in the folds of his garb.

صَرَفت أَفعالي بِيانع حسنه

صَرَفت أَفعالي بِيانع حسنه

وَعَدلت عَن مَنع الحَسود وَصرفه

وَعَدلت عَن مَنع الحَسود وَصرفه

I directed my deeds by the ripeness of his beauty,

I turned my deeds to match his graceful beauty,

And disregarded the envier’s prohibitions and dissuasion.

And ignored the envy of those prone to turn away.

وَاللَه لا أَسلو حَلاوة وَصله

وَاللَه لا أَسلو حَلاوة وَصله

أَبَداً وَلَو دهم الزَمان بِحتفه

أَبَداً وَلَو دهم الزَمان بِحتفه

By God, I shall not forget the sweetness of union with him,

By God, I'll never cease the sweetness of union with him,

Ever, even if time should bring his death.

Not even if time brings me to my demise.

اللَهُ أَكبر ما رَأَيت كَلَحظه

اللَهُ أَكبر ما رَأَيت كَلَحظه

سَيفاً وَلا جَبَلاً يَمور كَردفه

سَيفاً وَلا جَبَلاً يَمور كَردفه

God is greatest! Never have I seen, like his glance,

God is Greatest – I’ve never seen in any glance of his

A sword, nor a mountain swaying like his buttocks.

A sword or mountain raging like his shoulder.

هَذا أَمير بَني أُمية فَاِحذَروا

هَذا أَمير بَني أُمية فَاِحذَروا

ثَأر الحُسين فَإِنَّهُ في كفه

ثَأر الحُسين فَإِنَّهُ في كفه

This is a prince of the sons of Umayya, so beware

This is the Prince of the Umayyads, so beware

Vengeance for Husayn, for it lies in his palm.

Revenge for al-Husayn, for it is in his hands.