كَثيفَةُ الحَشوِ وَلَكِنَّها
رَقيقَةُ الجِلدِ هَوانِيَه
Thick with filling, and yet
delicate-skinned and tender.
رُشَّت بِماءِ الوَردِ أَعطافُها
مَنشورَةُ الطَيِّ وَمُطوِيَّه
Her folds were sprinkled with rosewater,
outspread in their folding, yet folded close.
كَأَنَّها مِن طيبِ أَنفاسِها
قَد سَرَقَت مِن نَشرِ ما رِيَّه
As though, from the sweetness of her breath,
she had stolen something of Māriya’s fragrance.
جاءَت مِنَ السُكَّرِ فِضِّيَّةٌ
وَهيَ مِنَ الأَدهانِ تِبرِيَّه
Fashioned of sugar, she came forth silver-white,
yet from the oils she was golden.
قَد وَهَبَ اللَيلُ لَها بُردَه
وَوَهَبَ الخَصبُ لَها زِيَّه
Night bestowed its mantle upon her,
and abundance bestowed its finery.
Sol 5.6