يَا أَيُّهَا الْبَحْرُ مَهْلاً

فَقَدْ دَهَانَا اهْتِيَاجُكْ

O sea, be gentle,

For your fierce turbulence has overwhelmed us.

إِنَّا هَمَمْنَا بِأَمْرٍ

مَنَعَ مِنْهُ انْزِعَاجُكْ

We had resolved upon a certain matter,

From which your restless commotion has barred us.

لَوْ كُنْتَ تَدْرِي لَأَبْدَى

سِيمَا السُّرُورِِ ابْتِهَاجُكْ

If you but knew, then would have revealed

The signs of gladness, your own rejoicing.

يَا لَيْتَ شِعْرِي إِلَى كَمْ

يَحْكِي فُؤَادِي ارْتِجَاجُكْ

Oh, would that I knew, for how much longer

Your violent trembling will imitate my heart?

أَبْغِي السِّوَاكَ وَلاَ أُرِيدُ سِوَاكَا

سُبْحَانَ يَا بَدْرُ الذِي سَوَّاكَا

I seek the siwak, yet I desire none but you;

Glory be, O full moon, to the One who fashioned you!

فَلَمَاكَ يَمْتَهِنُ السِّوَاكَ وَلاَ رَشاً

يُغْنِي لَمَاهُ عَنِ السِّوَاكِ سِوَاكَا

For your dark lips humble the siwak, and there is no fawn

Whose dark lips have no need of the siwak, except you.