ضَمَّها الطَير مطبقاً بجناحي

ضَمَّها الطَير مطبقاً بجناحي

هِ وَهَمَّت بِثَغره شفتاها

هِ وَهَمَّت بِثَغره شفتاها

The bird clasped her, closing around her his two wing—

The bird embraced her, enfolding her with his two wings,

—s, while her lips inclined toward his beak.

and her lips sought his mouth.

لَم يُمتَّع بِنَشوة الحُب حَتّى

لَم يُمتَّع بِنَشوة الحُب حَتّى

أَشرَعَت شَوكة تَلظّى شباها

أَشرَعَت شَوكة تَلظّى شباها

He was not allowed to savor love’s rapture before

He had no time to savor love's rapture before

she leveled a thorn whose point flamed.

she thrust out a thorn whose sharp tip blazed.

أَوردتها قَلباً إِذا رَفَّ يَوماً

أَوردتها قَلباً إِذا رَفَّ يَوماً

خافِقاً لِلهَوى فَذاكَ هَواها

خافِقاً لِلهَوى فَذاكَ هَواها

She drove it into a heart that, if ever it fluttered,

She drove it into a heart: if ever it fluttered,

throbbed with passion—and that was precisely her desire.

beating with love, that love was for her.

كَرَعت في الدَم البَريء فَلَما

كَرَعت في الدَم البَريء فَلَما

عَكسته وَهّاجَةً وَجنتاها

عَكسته وَهّاجَةً وَجنتاها

She drank deep of the innocent blood; and when

She drank deeply of the innocent blood; then, when

her cheeks reflected it, all ablaze,

her cheeks reflected it in a blazing glow,

نظر الطَير نَظرةً أَعقبتها

نظر الطَير نَظرةً أَعقبتها

روحُه طيّ شهقة مَعناها

روحُه طيّ شهقة مَعناها

the bird cast a look, and after it came

the bird cast a glance, which was followed

his soul, folded within a gasp whose meaning was:

by his soul, enfolded in a gasp whose meaning was:

وَردة تبهر العُيون وَلَكن

وَردة تبهر العُيون وَلَكن

كثرةُ الشمِّ قَد أَضاعَت شَذاها

كثرةُ الشمِّ قَد أَضاعَت شَذاها

A rose may dazzle the eyes, but

“A rose that dazzles the eyes—but

too much smelling has squandered its fragrance.

too much sniffing has robbed her of her fragrance.”