بدا ضاحكا لا لأحظَى بما

بدا ضاحكا لا لأحظَى بما

تُسَرُّ به النفسُ من بِشره

تُسَرُّ به النفسُ من بِشره

He appeared smiling—not that I might win

He appeared smiling, not so that I might delight in what

what delights the soul in his cheerful countenance;

gladdens the soul in his cheerfulness;

ولكن رأى وجهَه مقمرا

ولكن رأى وجهَه مقمرا

فأبَدى كواكبَ من ثغره

فأبَدى كواكبَ من ثغره

rather, he saw his face aglow like the moon,

but he saw his face bright as the moon,

and from his mouth unveiled its stars.

so he revealed stars from his mouth.