يَكادُ القَلبُ مِن طَرَبٍ إِلَيهِم

يَكادُ القَلبُ مِن طَرَبٍ إِلَيهِم

وَمِن فَرطِ الصَبابَةِ يُستَطارُ

وَمِن فَرطِ الصَبابَةِ يُستَطارُ

The heart is almost—from rapture for them

My heart is filled with joy for them

and from an excess of yearning—swept away.

And with excessive youthfulness I'm aroused

وَفي الحَيِّ الَّذينَ رَأَيتُ خَودٌ

وَفي الحَيِّ الَّذينَ رَأَيتُ خَودٌ

لَعوبُ الدَلِّ آنِسَةٌ نَوارُ

لَعوبُ الدَلِّ آنِسَةٌ نَوارُ

And among the clansfolk I saw is a tender maiden,

And in the neighborhood I saw cheeks

playful in her coyness, companionable and chaste.

Playful charms are radiant lights

بَرودُ العارِضَينَ كَأَنَّ فاها

بَرودُ العارِضَينَ كَأَنَّ فاها

بُعَيدَ النَومِ عاتِقَةٌ عُقارُ

بُعَيدَ النَومِ عاتِقَةٌ عُقارُ

Cool at the sides of her mouth, as though her mouth

The coolness of the eyelids is as if its mouth

just after sleep were aged wine.

Was sleepy after a distant sleep

إِذا نادى المُنادي كادَ يَقضي

إِذا نادى المُنادي كادَ يَقضي

حِذارَ البَينِ لَو نَفَعَ الحِذارُ

حِذارَ البَينِ لَو نَفَعَ الحِذارُ

When the crier calls, it almost dies,

If the caller called, he almost ended

for fear of parting—if fear could be of use.

The separation, even if separation didn't end

وَوَدَّ اللَيلَ زيدَ إِلَيهِ لَيلٌ

وَوَدَّ اللَيلَ زيدَ إِلَيهِ لَيلٌ

وَلَم يُخلَق لَهُ أَبداً نَهارُ

وَلَم يُخلَق لَهُ أَبداً نَهارُ

And it wishes another night were added to the night,

He wished the night would last longer

and that no day were ever created for it.

And daytime was never created for it