عَلَيَّ مَها اللِوى في الحُكمِ جارَت

عَلَيَّ مَها اللِوى في الحُكمِ جارَت

وَقَلبي مِن نَواها ما أَجارت

وَقَلبي مِن نَواها ما أَجارت

The oryx-eyed beauty of al-Liwā has wronged me in her judgment,

The oryxes of al-Liwā were unjust to me in their judgment,

and has not spared my heart the pain of her estrangement.

And did not shield my heart from their remoteness.

أَأنسِيَتِ المَودَّة حَيثُ زارَت

أَأنسِيَتِ المَودَّة حَيثُ زارَت

وَلي وَلَها إِذا الكاساتُ دارَت

وَلي وَلَها إِذا الكاساتُ دارَت

Was affection forgotten wherever she went?

Has she been made to forget affection, when she visited,

Yet she and I, whenever the goblets made their rounds,

And, as the cups went round, she and I shared

مُحادَثَةٌ تَحُلّ حُبى الهُموم

مُحادَثَةٌ تَحُلّ حُبى الهُموم

أَماطَت إِذ خَلَوتُ بِها اللِثاما

أَماطَت إِذ خَلَوتُ بِها اللِثاما

shared conversation that unbound the knots of care.

Conversation that unties the bonds of sorrow?

When I was alone with her, she drew aside her veil

When I was alone with her, she drew aside her veil,

وَقالَت ها فَمي فَاِرشف مُداما

وَقالَت ها فَمي فَاِرشف مُداما

وَدُونَكَ فَاِستَمِع مِنّي كَلاما

وَدُونَكَ فَاِستَمِع مِنّي كَلاما

and said, “Here is my mouth—sip wine from it;

And said: Here is my mouth—sip wine;

and take what follows: listen to words from me—

And here you are—listen to words from me:

مُنادَمَةً أَلَذّ مِنَ النَدامى

مُنادَمَةً أَلَذّ مِنَ النَدامى

وَبثُّ جَوى أَرَقُّ مِنَ النَسيم

وَبثُّ جَوى أَرَقُّ مِنَ النَسيم

companionship more delightful than boon companions,

Companionship over wine, sweeter than boon companions,

and the outpouring of a passion gentler than the breeze.”

And an outpouring of longing more delicate than the breeze.