ورومية الخدِّ زنجيَّةٍ

ورومية الخدِّ زنجيَّةٍ

يلوحُ على رأسِها شاكرُه

يلوحُ على رأسِها شاكرُه

Many a Zanj woman with a Byzantine cheek—

A Romeo with an African Juliet

its admirer gleaming upon her head.

Her ponytail sways on her head

خطبتُ فقرَّرت لي مهرَها

خطبتُ فقرَّرت لي مهرَها

وكل امرئٍ شاهدٌ ذاكرُه

وكل امرئٍ شاهدٌ ذاكرُه

I sought her hand, and she fixed her bride-price for me;

I proposed and she set her dowry

every man is a witness who remembers it.

And all remember witnessing this

فلما دخلتُ تمادى المِطالُ

فلما دخلتُ تمادى المِطالُ

وطال ويا ليتَ ذا آخرُه

وطال ويا ليتَ ذا آخرُه

But when I went in to her, the deferment dragged on

But when we wed, troubles dragged on

and on—if only this were the end of it!

And continued, if only they would end