خضَبَتْ يديْها لون فاحِمها فما
نقص البياضُ ملاحةً بل زادا
Her hands were dyed a bright red hue
She dyed her hands a charcoal hue, and so
Yet the whiteness lost no radiance, but rather gained
The whiteness lost no loveliness, but gained.
ما بال شيبي تُنكرينَ خِضابَه
وأراك صابغةَ البياضِ سوادا
Why do you deny the dyeing of my grey hair
Why do you censure the dyeing of my grey hair,
When I see you turn white to black?
When I see you dyeing whiteness black?
قالت نجيعُك في يديَّ وإنَّما
بدّلتُه أسفاً عليك حِدادا
She said: “Your weeping is in my hands,
She said, "Your lifeblood lies upon my hands, and I"
I changed its color only in mourning for you.”
"Have turned it, grieving you, into mourning garb."
