الغصنthe bough منسوبٌascribed إلىto قدهhis figure
الغصن منسوبٌ إلى قده
والوردand the roses منثورًstrewn علىupon خدهِhis cheek
والورد منثورً على خدهِ
The bough is likened to his figure,
The branch is attributed to its trunk
And roses are strewn upon his cheek.
And the rose scattered on its cheek
بدرٌa full moon يودwishes البدرthe full moon فيin حسنهhis beauty
بدرٌ يود البدر في حسنه
بأنهthat it يُعزىbe attributed إلىto عبدهhis servant
بأنه يُعزى إلى عبده
A full moon—the full moon wishes, in beauty,
A full moon that wishes for the full moon in its beauty
That it might be linked to his servant.
That it is attributed to its servant
سألتهI asked him فيin صحوةsobriety قبلةًa kiss
سألته في صحوة قبلةً
فردنيso he rebuffed me والموتand death فيin ردهhis refusal
فردني والموت في رده
I asked him, while he was sober, for a kiss.
I asked him soberly for a kiss
So he rebuffed me, and death lay in his refusal.
But he refused me and death was in his refusal
حتىuntil إذاwhen السكرdrunkenness لوىbent رأسهhis head
حتى إذا السكر لوى رأسه
قبلتهI kissed him ألفاًa thousand times بلاwithout حمدهthanking him
قبلته ألفاً بلا حمده
Until, when drunkenness bowed his head,
Until when intoxication twisted his head
I kissed him a thousand times, with no thanks to him.
I kissed him a thousand times without his praise
Sol 6.1