ماnot ذُقتُI tasted طَعمَthe taste of النَوىseparation لَوif تَدريyou knew
ما ذُقتُ طَعمَ النَوى لَو تَدري
كَأَنَّas though جَنبَيَّmy two sides عَلىon جَمرِembers
كَأَنَّ جَنبَيَّ عَلى جَمرِ
I have not tasted the flavor of separation—if you only knew;
I have not tasted the sweetness of sleep, if only you knew
It is as though my two sides were on embers.
It is as if my sides are on burning coals
فيin قَمَرٍa moon مُشرِقٍradiant نِصفُهُhalf of it
في قَمَرٍ مُشرِقٍ نِصفُهُ
كَأَنَّهُas though it مَحرَقَةُa burner of العِطرِperfume
كَأَنَّهُ مَحرَقَةُ العِطرِ
Under a moon, half of it radiant,
In a shining moon, half of it
As though it were an incense burner.
Is as if it were a burning perfume
فَريسَةٌprey لِلبَقِّto the bedbugs مَنهوشَةٌbitten
فَريسَةٌ لِلبَقِّ مَنهوشَةٌ
قَدalready ضَعُفَتhas grown weak كَفّيmy hand عَنِfor النَصرِhelp
قَد ضَعُفَت كَفّي عَنِ النَصرِ
Prey to bedbugs, bitten all over,
I am easy prey for the insects, all bitten up
My hand has grown too weak to defend me.
My hands have grown too weak to swat them away
Sol 6.1