عِندي مِنَ المَدعونِ صينِيَّةٌ

عِندي مِنَ المَدعونِ صينِيَّةٌ

كَأَنَّها سُفرَةُ ديباجِ

كَأَنَّها سُفرَةُ ديباجِ

I have a tray of al-Madʿūn,

I have from my guests a platter,

As though it were a brocade tablecloth.

As if it were a silken sheet,

تُبدي مِنَ الأَصباغِ ما لا تَرى

تُبدي مِنَ الأَصباغِ ما لا تَرى

مِثلاً لَهُ في جَوهَرِ التاجِ

مِثلاً لَهُ في جَوهَرِ التاجِ

It displays hues for which you cannot see

Revealing colors you do not see,

An equal among the jewels of the crown:

Comparable in gems to a crown.

مِن أَحمَرٍ يَلمَعُ في أَبيَضٍ

مِن أَحمَرٍ يَلمَعُ في أَبيَضٍ

كَأَنَّهُ البَقَّمُ في العاجِ

كَأَنَّهُ البَقَّمُ في العاجِ

Of red gleaming amid white,

Of red gleaming in white

As though it were brazilwood in ivory.

As if it were coral in ivory.