أَعطَيتُ مَن أَعشَقُها وردَةً

مِن بَعدِ أَن أَودَعتُها قَلبي

I gave a rose to the one I love

I gave a rose to the one I adore,

After I had placed her in my heart

After I had already entrusted her with my heart.

فَجَعَلَت تَنثُرُ أَوراقَها

بِأَنمُلٍ كَالغَنَمِ الرَطبِ

She began to tear its petals

But she began to scatter its petals,

With fingers like gentle lambs

With fingertips like soft, tender branches.

لا تَسأَلوا العاشِقَ عَن قَلبِهِ

قَد ضاعَ بَينَ الضِحك وَاللَعِبِ

Do not ask the lover about his heart

Do not ask the lover about his heart,

It is lost between laughter and play

For it is lost amidst laughter and play.

لَم أَقطِفِ الوَردَةَ مِن غُصنِها

لَو لَم تَكُن كَالخَدِّ في الإِتِّقاد

I did not pluck the rose from its branch

I would not have plucked the rose from its bough,

If it were not like a glowing cheek

Had it not resembled her cheek in its burning glow.

وَلَم تُمَزِّق هِندُ أَوراقَها

لَولا اِشتِباهٌ بَينَها وَالفُؤاد

And Hind would not have torn its petals

And Hind would not have torn its petals apart,

If it were not confused with the heart

Were it not for the likeness between them and my heart.