يا شَمسُ لا تَفخَري إِن لَو حكيتِ ضُحى

يا شَمسُ لا تَفخَري إِن لَو حكيتِ ضُحى

حسنَ الّذي كلّ شَمسٍ مِن سوادنِهِ

حسنَ الّذي كلّ شَمسٍ مِن سوادنِهِ

O sun, do not boast, even if at forenoon you mirrored

O sun, do not boast, for if you spoke of the beauty

the beauty of him whose attendants include every sun;

Of noon whose charm eclipses all suns' dark faces,

وَلَو حكيتِ جَمالاً حلّ غُرّتهُ

وَلَو حكيتِ جَمالاً حلّ غُرّتهُ

قَد فاتَ مِنك كَثيرٌ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ

قَد فاتَ مِنك كَثيرٌ مِن مَحاسِنِهِ

and even if you mirrored the beauty that graced his brow,

And if you told of a beauty whose veil was lifted,

much of his loveliness has eluded you.

Much of its loveliness has escaped from your rays.