1. لو تروا حب ما اجمل

    السبدور من يخجل

    If you could see a beloved—how beautiful!

    One who puts the full moons to shame!

  2. قد فشي حسن واشتهر

    كل قلب به انعمر

    His beauty has spread and become renowned;

    every heart is filled with him.

  3. ويميّل إذي خطر

    قصائد وازحال لابن زمرك

    And he sways as he passes by.

    Poems and zajals by Ibn Zamrak.

  4. غصن قدوا ما أعدل

    تسقوا الريح وتحمل

    His figure is a bough—how well-proportioned!

    The wind waters him and bears him aloft.

  5. صور من أملح الصور

    روض هو خد من زهر

    A figure among the loveliest of figures;

    his cheek is a garden of flowers,

  6. وجفون تسبي من نظر

    ما يزولوا يتغزّل

    and eyelids that captivate whoever looks.

    He never ceases to sing of love,

  7. يفتنوا الناس ويخذل

    وشفيفيت من عقيق

    enchanting people and forsaking them.

    And little lips of carnelian,

  8. وشويرب أخضر رقيق

    ووره ربط من شقيق

    and a little moustache, green and fine,

    and a [fresh face] of anemones.

  9. العلو فيه والمل

    كل من ريّه توهل

    In him are loftiness and [unclear].

    Everyone is awestruck at the sight of him.

  10. يا حبيبي بها إلي

    غصن أنت فمل علي

    O my beloved, [look] toward me;

    you are a bough, so bend toward me.

  11. كنت ندريك رشيق حلي

    سكر لو كن تميّل

    I knew you to be graceful and sweet—

    sugar-sweet, if only you would sway!

  12. وعليها نقبّل

    منصور آمشبه القمر

    And I would press kisses upon it.

    Mansur, O you who resemble the moon,

  13. خذ بيديّ اش تنتظر

    نقطع الليل بالسهر

    take me by both hands—what are you waiting for?

    Let us pass the night awake.

  14. روح نعطيك لو تقبل

    كن نهدّيه ونرسل

    I would give you my soul, if you would accept it;

    I would offer it as a gift and send it.

  15. ما تري جسمي بالنحول

    بحل الصبغ حين يحول

    Do you not see my body's wasting,

    like dye when it fades?

  16. ما بقى من غير طلول

    وذبل قلب كاشعل

    Nothing remains but ruins,

    and a heart withered, [as though aflame].

  17. نار تجنيك وأشغل

    ما تخاف شي أن نشتكيك

    A fire that [afflicts] you and [preoccupies you].

    Do you not fear that I may complain of you

  18. فرفيّع إلى المليك

    ونخليك تفتل اديك

    in a [petition] to the king,

    and leave you wringing your hands?

  19. إنّ عدوا لس تجهل

    سلّموا اللّه وفضّل

    Surely you are not ignorant of his [justice].

    May God preserve him and favor him!

  20. يام يفتح من البليد

    فالقريب منها والبعيد

    How many lands he conquers,

    the near among them and the far!

  21. والملوك يرجعوا عبيد

    ولعزّوا يذلّل

    And kings become slaves;

    their might is brought low,

  22. ويهدّوا ويرسل

    ما له في الوجود مثال

    and gifts are offered to him and sent.

    He has no equal in existence:

  23. التواضع مع الجلال

    والكمال حاز مع الجمال

    humility together with majesty,

    and perfection he has attained along with beauty.

  24. كل من قد تأمّل

    رج خيروا وأمّل

    Everyone who has contemplated him

    hopes for his bounty and cherishes hope.