إنِّي وَإنْ كُنْتُ آبَنُوسِي

إنِّي وَإنْ كُنْتُ آبَنُوسِي

فَالكَتْم مِنْ شِيمَتي وَسُوسِي

فَالكَتْم مِنْ شِيمَتي وَسُوسِي

Indeed, though I am made of ebony,

Though I am an ebony idol carved,

yet secrecy is part of my character and nature.

Silence and discretion suit my nature well.

والمِسْكُ لَوْنِي إليْهِ يُعْزَى

والمِسْكُ لَوْنِي إليْهِ يُعْزَى

وَحَبَّذَا العِطْرُ للْعَرُوسِ

وَحَبَّذَا العِطْرُ للْعَرُوسِ

And my color is ascribed to musk;

To musk my hue is likened,

and how lovely perfume is for the bride!

And the bride's scent is mingled in my smell.

أَفْرطْنَ في بِرِّي الغَوانِي

أَفْرطْنَ في بِرِّي الغَوانِي

كُلَّ نَفِيسٍ هَوَى النفُوسِ

كُلَّ نَفِيسٍ هَوَى النفُوسِ

The beauties have been extravagant in their kindness to me;

I have exceeded in my perfumes and trousseau,

every precious thing is the desire of souls.

Drawing the souls in loving zeal.

فَمِن رُؤُوسٍ إِلى أَكُفٍّ

فَمِن رُؤُوسٍ إِلى أَكُفٍّ

وَمِنْ أَكُفّ إِلَى رُؤُوسِ

وَمِنْ أَكُفّ إِلَى رُؤُوسِ

So from heads to palms,

From palms to wrists, from wrists to palms,

and from palms to heads.

My scent of ambergris travels.