بي مُحيّاهُ وَالعِذارُ عَليهِ

بي مُحيّاهُ وَالعِذارُ عَليهِ

فَهوَ نَقشُ العُيونِ دونَ اِرتِيابِ

فَهوَ نَقشُ العُيونِ دونَ اِرتِيابِ

I would give myself for his face, with cheek-down upon it;

With life on his cheek, doubt questioning still,

for it is the eyes’ engraving, beyond all doubt.

He's light in our eyes, beyond all denial.

قُلتُ خافَت عَلى مُحيّاه مِنها

قُلتُ خافَت عَلى مُحيّاه مِنها

فَوَقَتْهُ العُيون بِالأَهدابِ

فَوَقَتْهُ العُيون بِالأَهدابِ

I said: the eyes feared they might harm his face,

I said, "Fear for his life makes those eyes grow dim,"

so the eyes shielded it with their lashes.

So the lids protect him with their soft denial.