سَل عن دَمي ليلى إِذا هي أَقبلَت

سَل عن دَمي ليلى إِذا هي أَقبلَت

بَينَ النِّساءِ وَخَدُّها كالعندمِ

بَينَ النِّساءِ وَخَدُّها كالعندمِ

Ask Layla about my blood when she comes

Ask about my blood, O Laila, when she comes

among the women, her cheek like crimson dye.

Among the women, her cheek like andem wood.

ومَتى أَبَت إِلاَّ الجُحودَ وأَنكرت

ومَتى أَبَت إِلاَّ الجُحودَ وأَنكرت

فانظر على وجَناتهِا أَثَر الدَّمِ

فانظر على وجَناتهِا أَثَر الدَّمِ

And whenever she insists on denial and disavows it,

And if she denies and rejects, then look

then look upon her cheeks for the trace of blood.

Upon her cheeks for traces of my blood.

يا لَلرِّجالِ وإِنها لَعَجيبَةٌ

يا لَلرِّجالِ وإِنها لَعَجيبَةٌ

مَا مِثلُها أبداً أَليَّةَ مُقسِم

مَا مِثلُها أبداً أَليَّةَ مُقسِم

O men, to the rescue! She is indeed a wonder:

O men, she is indeed a wonder -

there is none like her, ever—I solemnly swear.

None like her, ever, I solemnly swear.

أَخشَى قناةَ قوامِها وَمقَاتِلي

أَخشَى قناةَ قوامِها وَمقَاتِلي

غَرَضٌ لِما في لَحظِها مُقسِمِ

غَرَضٌ لِما في لَحظِها مُقسِمِ

I fear the spear of her stature, and my vital parts

I fear her slender waist and her warriors -

are a target for the death-dealer within her glance.

My goal is what is in her eyes, I swear.

وأَهابُ عَقربَ صُدغِهَا ويدي على

وأَهابُ عَقربَ صُدغِهَا ويدي على

ما أَرسلَت من شَعرِها من أَرقَمِ

ما أَرسلَت من شَعرِها من أَرقَمِ

And I dread the scorpion at her temple, while my hand rests upon

And I fear the scorpion of her temple, and my hand is on

the speckled serpent she has let loose from her hair.

What she sends forth of her hair like arrows.

ما ذاكَ من سَفَهٍ ولكن لا هوىً

ما ذاكَ من سَفَهٍ ولكن لا هوىً

ما لَم يَذر رَبَّ البصيرةِ كالعَمِي

ما لَم يَذر رَبَّ البصيرةِ كالعَمِي

That is not folly; but there is no love

This is not folly, but love -

unless it leaves the man of insight like a blind man.

One whom the Lord of foresight left blind.

ومُعنِّفي جَهلاً على عِشقي لها

ومُعنِّفي جَهلاً على عِشقي لها

أَذكى بِمر العَذلِ نارَ تألُّمي

أَذكى بِمر العَذلِ نارَ تألُّمي

And he who ignorantly rebukes me for my love of her

And they blame me in ignorance for my love of her -

stoked the fire of my anguish with bitter reproach.

More sharply stoking the fire of my agony.

ناديتهُ قِسها إِلى شمسِ الضُّحى

ناديتهُ قِسها إِلى شمسِ الضُّحى

حُسناً فَإِن هيَ لم تَزد نُوراً لُمِ

حُسناً فَإِن هيَ لم تَزد نُوراً لُمِ

I called to him: "Compare her with the midmorning sun

I called to him, "Compare her to the sun at dawn -

in beauty; if she does not surpass it in radiance, blame me."

In beauty, though she grows no brighter, I swear."