لِلَّهِ غانِيَةٌ يَوماً خَلَوتُ بِها

لِلَّهِ غانِيَةٌ يَوماً خَلَوتُ بِها

في مَجلِسٍ غابَ عَنّا فيهِ واشيها

في مَجلِسٍ غابَ عَنّا فيهِ واشيها

What a beauty! One day I was alone with her

I once spent some time alone with a beautiful woman

In a chamber where her tale-bearer was away from us.

In a gathering where her chaperone was absent

كُلٌّ لَهُ حاجَةٌ مِن وَصلِ صاحِبِهِ

كُلٌّ لَهُ حاجَةٌ مِن وَصلِ صاحِبِهِ

لَولا يَسيرُ حَياءٍ كادَ يَقضيها

لَولا يَسيرُ حَياءٍ كادَ يَقضيها

Each had a wish for union with the other;

Each of us desired intimacy with the other

But for a little modesty, each would have all but fulfilled it.

Were it not for a little shyness, we'd have fulfilled our wishes

وَلِلعُيونِ رِسالاتٌ مُرَدَّدَةٌ

وَلِلعُيونِ رِسالاتٌ مُرَدَّدَةٌ

تَدري القُلوبُ مَعانيها وَنُخفيها

تَدري القُلوبُ مَعانيها وَنُخفيها

And the eyes exchange messages again and again;

Our eyes exchanged meaningful glances

The hearts know their meanings, and we conceal them.

Our hearts knew their meaning, though we hid it