وَسَوداءَ مَنظومٍ عَلَيها لَآلِئٌ

لَها صورَةُ البِطّيخِ وَهيَ مِنَ النَدِّ

With dark braided hair adorned with pearls

And a black sphere upon which pearls are strung,

Her face is shaped like a melon, smooth as silk

It bears the melon's form, yet is of nadd composed,

كَأَنَّ بَقايا عَنبَرٍ فَوقَ رَأسِها

طُلوعُ رَواعي الشَيبِ في الشَعَرِ الجَعدِ

As if remnants of ambergris lay atop her head

As if the remnants of ambergris upon its head

The rising wisps of gray hair amidst her curly black locks

Were the dawning of grey streaks in curly hair.