حبيبي أسمر مخنكر

حبيبي أسمر مخنكر

مَعُو عِينْ سُوداً تَنْحَرْ بْخَنْجَرْ

مَعُو عِينْ سُوداً تَنْحَرْ بْخَنْجَرْ

My beloved is dark-complexioned, [epithet unclear].

My beloved, tan skinned and frowning,

He has a dark eye that slaughters with a dagger.

With black eyes that slay with daggers,

وفيها السّحْرْ سَطِّرْ

وفيها السّحْرْ سَطِّرْ

حروفْ نَارِيَّةْ تسْحِرْ وتسْجُرْ

حروفْ نَارِيَّةْ تسْحِرْ وتسْجُرْ

And in it, magic has inscribed

In them is magic inscribed,

Fiery letters that enchant and set ablaze.

Fiery letters that enchant and captivate,

تْمَسَّكْ وَرْدْ خَدُّو

تْمَسَّكْ وَرْدْ خَدُّو

بعَنْبَرْ خَالْ شَحْرِي مرعف

بعَنْبَرْ خَالْ شَحْرِي مرعف

The rose of his cheek became musk-scented

Clinging to a rosy cheek,

With the mole’s dripping ambergris from Shihr.

With ambergris musk on a delicate temple,

وبَاهَي غُصْن قَدُّو

وبَاهَي غُصْن قَدُّو

بنَرْجَسْ لحظْ بَرّي ومْضَعَّفْ

بنَرْجَسْ لحظْ بَرّي ومْضَعَّفْ

And the branch of his stature boasted

And blossoming branch of his stature,

Of his gaze’s wild and double-flowered narcissus.

With a narcissus glance, untamed and doubled over,

وفي صَدْرُو لْنَهْدُو

وفي صَدْرُو لْنَهْدُو

رْمِيمِينْ حِلوْ زهرِي ومْضَعَّفْ

رْمِيمِينْ حِلوْ زهرِي ومْضَعَّفْ

And on his chest, his bosom—

And on his chest are

Two little pomegranates, sweet, rosy, and doubled.

My two sweet flowers, blossoming and doubled over.