بشرقي اللوى عانقت شمساً

بشرقي اللوى عانقت شمساً

تحلّى جيدها بنجوم غربِ

تحلّى جيدها بنجوم غربِ

On the eastern side of al-Liwa I embraced a sun,

With my beloved I embraced the sun in the east,

whose neck was adorned with stars of silver.

Adorned was her neck with stars of the west.

إذا هز الدلال بمنكبيها

إذا هز الدلال بمنكبيها

تخطف بالذوابل كل لب

تخطف بالذوابل كل لب

When coquetry sways her shoulders,

When she sways with her shoulders so gently,

she captures every mind with slender spears.

She steals all resolve with her tenderness.

كأن بخدها إنسان عيني

كأن بخدها إنسان عيني

توسد فوق نار صميم قلبي

توسد فوق نار صميم قلبي

It is as though, on her cheek, the pupil of my eye

As though upon her cheek dwelt a person,

lay pillowed upon the fire at my heart’s core.

Pillowing over the core flame of my heart.

دنوت لثغرها ويئست مما

دنوت لثغرها ويئست مما

سواه وقلت راح الريق حسبي

سواه وقلت راح الريق حسبي

I drew near her mouth and despaired of anything

I drew near her lips though knew that,

else, and said, “The wine of her saliva is enough for me.”

Apart from her, was healed and soothed my thirst.

فقالت ما تريد فقلت راحاً

فقالت ما تريد فقلت راحاً

تعيد مسرتي وتزيل كربي

تعيد مسرتي وتزيل كربي

Then she said, “What do you want?” I said, “Wine

So I said, "What do you desire?" She replied, "Solace,

that restores my joy and dispels my anguish.”

Which restores my joy and lifts my hardship."

فابعد صدها عني لماها

فابعد صدها عني لماها

ونبه طرفها الساجي لحربي

ونبه طرفها الساجي لحربي

Then her refusal drove her dark lips away from me,

So turn your cheek from me due to her blaze,

and roused her languid gaze to wage war on me.

And wake those sleepy eyes for my battle.

أعيذك من لواحظها السكارى

أعيذك من لواحظها السكارى

فما خلقت كذا إلا لتسبي

فما خلقت كذا إلا لتسبي

I seek protection for you from her drunken sidelong glances,

I seek refuge in you from her intoxicating glances,

for they were created thus only to enslave.

For she was created only to captivate me.