جاءَت بِوَجهٍ مُعرِضٍ

جاءَت بِوَجهٍ مُعرِضٍ

وَطالَما تَعَرَّضا

وَطالَما تَعَرَّضا

She came with her face turned away,

She came with an averted face

though so often it had sought me out.

Though long have we been exposed

بَيضاءُ ما أَبصَرتُ مِن

بَيضاءُ ما أَبصَرتُ مِن

ها قَطُّ وَجهاً أَبيَضا

ها قَطُّ وَجهاً أَبيَضا

Fair-skinned—yet never have I seen from

I've never seen a face so white

her a white, welcoming face.

As this face I now see bared

قالَت قَلا قُلتُ نَعَم

قالَت قَلا قُلتُ نَعَم

قَلبي عَلى جَمرِ الغَضا

قَلبي عَلى جَمرِ الغَضا

She said, “Scorn.” I said, “Yes—

She said, “Say little.” I said “Yes,

my heart is on the embers of ghada wood.”

My heart burns on coals when vexed.”