وَمَفروشَةِ الخَدَّينِ وَرداً مُضَرَّجاً

وَمَفروشَةِ الخَدَّينِ وَرداً مُضَرَّجاً

إِذا جَمَشَتهُ العَينُ عادَ بَنَفسَجا

إِذا جَمَشَتهُ العَينُ عادَ بَنَفسَجا

And a woman whose cheeks are carpeted with crimson roses—

With cheeks spread roses, red-stained

when the eye caresses them, they turn to violets.

When glanced by eyes, like violets again

شَكَوتُ إِلَيها طولَ لَيلي بِعَبرَةٍ

شَكَوتُ إِلَيها طولَ لَيلي بِعَبرَةٍ

فَأَبدَت لَنا بِالغُنجِ دُرّاً مُفَلَّجا

فَأَبدَت لَنا بِالغُنجِ دُرّاً مُفَلَّجا

I complained to her of my long night, with a tear;

I complained to her of my long night in tears

then coyly she revealed to us pearls, spaced apart.

She showed us pearls with dimples, unveiled

فَقُلتُ لَها مُنّي عَلَيَّ بِقُبلَةٍ

فَقُلتُ لَها مُنّي عَلَيَّ بِقُبلَةٍ

أُداوي بِها قَلبي فَقالَت تَغَنُّجا

أُداوي بِها قَلبي فَقالَت تَغَنُّجا

So I said to her, “Favor me with a kiss;

I said to her "Grant me a kiss"

I would heal my heart with it.” Then she said coyly:

To heal my heart, but she acted coy

بُليتُ بِرِدفٍ لَستُ أَسطيعُ حَملَهُ

بُليتُ بِرِدفٍ لَستُ أَسطيعُ حَملَهُ

يُجاذِبُ أَعضائي إِذا ما تَرَجرَجا

يُجاذِبُ أَعضائي إِذا ما تَرَجرَجا

“I am burdened with a rump I cannot carry;

I was burdened with more than I could bear

it tugs at my limbs whenever it sways.”

Shaking my limbs as it clanked and clashed