وعواتقٍ باكرتُ بين حدائقٍ

وعواتقٍ باكرتُ بين حدائقٍ

ففضضتهنَّ وقد غنين صحاحا

ففضضتهنَّ وقد غنين صحاحا

And aged wines I sought at dawn among gardens;

Amongst early blooming gardens I encountered

then broke their seals, though they had lain intact.

Maidens singing merrily songs so fair

أبرزتُهُنّ من الخدور حواسراً

أبرزتُهُنّ من الخدور حواسراً

وتركتُ صَوْنَ حريمهن مباحا

وتركتُ صَوْنَ حريمهن مباحا

I brought them from their curtained chambers, unveiled,

From their abodes I brought them out unveiled

and left their guarded sanctuary open to all.

Leaving aside their modesty without a care

وموشَّحٍ نازعتُ فَضْلَ وشاحِهِ

وموشَّحٍ نازعتُ فَضْلَ وشاحِهِ

وكسوتُهُ من ساعديَّ وشاحا

وكسوتُهُ من ساعديَّ وشاحا

And a sash-clad man—I tugged at his sash’s trailing end,

A maiden's shawl I seized in playful fight

and wrapped him in a sash made of my two forearms.

And wrapped it `round my arm, her dress laid bare

وصبحته كالورسِ بثَّ روائحاً

وصبحته كالورسِ بثَّ روائحاً

كالوردِ باكره النسيمُ ففاحا

كالوردِ باكره النسيمُ ففاحا

And I served him a morning draught, like wars, wafting scents,

Her fragrance to the blossoms I compared

like a rose the breeze greeted at dawn, which then breathed perfume.

As gentle breeze makes roses' scent take flight

وفعلتُ ما فَعَل المشوقُ بليلةٍ

وفعلتُ ما فَعَل المشوقُ بليلةٍ

عادت لذاذتها عليه جُناحا

عادت لذاذتها عليه جُناحا

And I did what the yearning lover did on a night

I acted as desire acted that night long

whose pleasure became a sin for him.

When pleasures to the lover winged took flight