وَمُعَندَمِ الوَجَناتِ تَحسِبُ أَنَّهُ

وَمُعَندَمِ الوَجَناتِ تَحسِبُ أَنَّهُ

صُبِغَت بُرودُ الوَردِ في وَجَناتِهِ

صُبِغَت بُرودُ الوَردِ في وَجَناتِهِ

And one with crimson cheeks—you would think that

The gardens, you'd think their roses

The roses’ mantles had been dyed in his cheeks.

Were dyed by the wine in his cheeks.

مَثُلَ الجَمالُ بِخَدِّهِ مُتَنَبِّئاً

مَثُلَ الجَمالُ بِخَدِّهِ مُتَنَبِّئاً

فَشَهِدتُ أَنَّ الخالَ مِن آياتِهِ

فَشَهِدتُ أَنَّ الخالَ مِن آياتِهِ

Beauty appeared upon his cheek, claiming prophethood,

Beauty's symbol - his mole - speaks

So I bore witness that the beauty mark was among his miracles.

So I know the mole is his sign.

نَظَرَت إِلَيهِ أُختُهُ شَمسُ الضُحى

نَظَرَت إِلَيهِ أُختُهُ شَمسُ الضُحى

وَأَياتُها في النُورِ دُونَ أياتِهِ

وَأَياتُها في النُورِ دُونَ أياتِهِ

His sister, the midmorning sun, looked upon him,

The dawn sun, his sister, looked at him,

And her miracles of radiance fell short of his.

Her signs dimmed by his light.

فَتَوَقَّدَت أَحشاؤُها مِن زَفرَةٍ

فَتَوَقَّدَت أَحشاؤُها مِن زَفرَةٍ

فَبَدا شُعاعُ النارِ في مِرآتِهِ

فَبَدا شُعاعُ النارِ في مِرآتِهِ

So her entrails blazed from a sigh,

Her heart caught fire with a gasp

And the fire’s radiance appeared in his mirror.

And the blaze shone in his mirror.