وَلَقَد كَلفت بشيشة ما نالَها

وَلَقَد كَلفت بشيشة ما نالَها

كِسرى وَلا ماء السَماء لَها حوى

كِسرى وَلا ماء السَماء لَها حوى

And indeed, I grew enamored of a water pipe never attained by

I tasked a luthier with crafting a lute, the likes of which

Kisra, nor did he gather heaven’s water for it.

Neither Chosroes possessed, nor the heavens contained.

أَعددتها لي شادِياً يَشدو عَلى

أَعددتها لي شادِياً يَشدو عَلى

نَغم الحِجاز إِذا أَضَرَّ بِيَ النَوى

نَغم الحِجاز إِذا أَضَرَّ بِيَ النَوى

I readied it as a singer for myself, singing to

He fashioned it for me, a minstrel to sing

the strains of Hijaz whenever separation afflicts me.

The melodies of Hijaz, when yearning afflicts me.

وَمِن الصَبابة أَعربت نَغماتها

وَمِن الصَبابة أَعربت نَغماتها

ما أَضمرته بِقَلبها أَيدي الجَوى

ما أَضمرته بِقَلبها أَيدي الجَوى

And out of yearning its melodies revealed

From refined ebony he elicited notes,

what the hands of burning anguish had hidden in its heart.

That which treacherous hands concealed in their bosoms.

حَتّى إِذا سامَرتها وَتَرنّمت

حَتّى إِذا سامَرتها وَتَرنّمت

كَترنّم الحادي بِمنعرج اللوى

كَترنّم الحادي بِمنعرج اللوى

Until, when I kept it company at night and sang

Until, when I strummed it, and it sang,

like the camel-driver’s song at the bend of al-Liwa,

Like a lovesick bard on the twisting road.

غَنَّت فأَطرَبت الجَليس بِصَوتِها

غَنَّت فأَطرَبت الجَليس بِصَوتِها

وَكَذاكَ مَن بِفُؤادِهِ لَعِبَ الهَوى

وَكَذاكَ مَن بِفُؤادِهِ لَعِبَ الهَوى

it sang and delighted the companion with its voice;

It sang, entrancing the companion with its voice,

and so it is with one whose heart love has toyed with.

And likewise, he in whose heart desire played.