قالُوا تُحبُّ صَغيرَةً فأجَبْتُهُمْ

قالُوا تُحبُّ صَغيرَةً فأجَبْتُهُمْ

أشْهَى المَطِيِّ إلَيَّ ما لَمْ يُرْكبِ

أشْهَى المَطِيِّ إلَيَّ ما لَمْ يُرْكبِ

They said, “You love a young girl,” so I answered them:

They said you love one who's petite, I replied:

“The mounts most desirable to me are those not yet ridden.

The untamed mount is what I desire un-rode.

كمْ بينَ حَبَّةِ لؤلؤٍ مثقوبةٍ

كمْ بينَ حَبَّةِ لؤلؤٍ مثقوبةٍ

نُظِمتْ وحبّةِ لؤلؤٍ لم تُثْقَبِ

نُظِمتْ وحبّةِ لؤلؤٍ لم تُثْقَبِ

How great the difference between a pierced pearl

How many between a pierced pearl

That has been strung, and a pearl that has not been pierced!”

Strung on a necklace, and an unpierced pearl.