لا هَجَعتْ عينٌ جَفَتْ هَجْعَهْ

ولا رَقَت من دمعها دمعه

May no eye that has forsaken a spell of sleep ever slumber,

nor may a tear among all its tears ever cease.

غنَّت فلو أسْطيعُ عُجْباً لها

أَقْطَعتُها من مهجتي قِطعَهْ

She sang—and if I could, in wonder at her,

I would cut out for her a piece of my very heart.

جاريةٌ لو أدركت بِدعَةً

إِذن لكانت عندها بِدعَه

A maiden—if she apprehended a novelty,

then it would indeed be a novelty in her keeping.

تخلعُ إِن غنَّت على قلب مَن

غنَّت له من طَرَبٍ خِلعَه

When she sings, she bestows upon the heart of the one

to whom she sings, out of rapture, a robe.

جاريةٌ تَثني على عُودها

قطعةَ جُمَّارٍ على طَلْعَه

A maiden bending over her oud—

a piece of tender palm-heart above its blossom.

تُغني عن المجمرِ طيباً

تُحوجُ في الليل إلى شمعَه

In fragrance, she makes the incense burner needless;

at night, she makes one need a candle.