رَوَتْ نَفَحَاتُ الطِّيبِ عَنْ نَسْمِةِ الصِّبَا

حَدِيثَ غَرَامٍ عَنْ سُوَيْكِنَةِ الخِبَا

The fragrant breezes told tales of passion

From the gentle whispering winds

وَأَهْدَى النَّسِيمُ الحَاجِريُّ سَلاَمَهَا

فَيا لُطْفَ مَا أَهْدَى النَّسِيمُ وَمَا حَبَا

And the westerly breeze sent its greetings

Oh, the kindness the breeze conveyed and the gifts it brought

أَيَا صَاحِبي مَا لِلْحِمَى فَاحَ نَشْرُهُ

فَهَلْ سَحَبَتْ لَيْلَى ذِيولاً عَلَى الرُّبَا

My friend, why does the heat of love spread?

Could it be Layla trailing her skirts over the sands?

فماذا الشَذا إلاَّ وقد زَار طَيْفُهَا

فأهْلاً بطَيْفٍ زارَ مِنْهَا وَمَرْحَبا

For what is this fragrance but her visiting presence?

Welcome to a presence from her, greetings and peace

فَيا طِيبَ عَيْشٍ مَرْ لِي بِفِنَائِهَا

وَلَوْ عَاد يَوْماً كَأنَ عِنْدِي أَطْيَبا

Oh the sweet life, passing by her dwelling

If it returned one day, most joyous that would be

لَيِاليَّ أُنْسٌ كُلُّهَا سَحَرٌ بها

وَأَيَّامُ وَصْلٍ كُلُّهَا زَمَنُ الصّبا

Nights of company, all of them spelled in magic through her

Days of union, all of them the age of youth

مُمُنْعَةٌ رَفْعُ الحِجابِ وَضَوْءُهُا

كَفَاهَا فَمَا نْحتَاجُ أَنْ نَتَنَقَّبا

She keeps her veil just so, and its glow

Is enough, no need for us to peer closer

هِيَ الشَمْسُ إلاَّ أنْ نُورَ جَمَالِهَا

يُنَزْهُهَا في الحُسْنِ أنْ تَتَحَجْبا

She is the sun, though the light of her beauty

Is too noble that she should remove her cover

لَئِنْ أَخْلَفَ الوَسْمِيُّ مَا حِلَ تُرْبِهَا

فقَدْ رَاحَ مِنْ دَمْعِ المُحِبْينَ يَخْصِبَا

If the tattooed one breaks his vow to her resting place

Still it will flourish, watered by the tears of lovers