أقولُI say لوَجْنَتَيْto the two cheeks of خَوْدٍa maiden تَجَلَّتْshe appeared
أقولُ لوَجْنَتَيْ خَوْدٍ تَجَلَّتْ
كَشَمسlike a sun فَوْقَabove غصنa bough فيin كَثيبِa sand dune
كَشَمس فَوْقَ غصن في كَثيبِ
I say to the two cheeks of a maiden who appeared
Like a sun above a bough upon a dune:
نَصِيبِيNisibian (from Nisibis) ماءُwater ورْدِroses كُماof you both وَمَنْand who لِيfor me
نَصِيبِي ماءُ ورْدِ كُما وَمَنْ لِي
بِأنْthat يَكُit be ماءُwater وَرْدِroses كُمَاof you both نَصِيبِيmy share
بِأنْ يَكُ ماءُ وَرْدِ كُمَا نَصِيبِي
“Your rosewater is Nisibian—but who can assure me
That your rosewater will be my share?”
Sol 6.1