شبَّهتُها بالبدر فاستضحكتْ

شبَّهتُها بالبدر فاستضحكتْ

وقابلت قوليّ بالنُكْرِ

وقابلت قوليّ بالنُكْرِ

I likened her to the full moon, so she laughed.

I compared her to the full moon, and she just laughed

And met my words with disapproval.

And met my words with denial

وسفَّهتْ قولي وقالت متى

وسفَّهتْ قولي وقالت متى

سَمُجْتُ حتى صرتُ كالبدر

سَمُجْتُ حتى صرتُ كالبدر

And she called my words foolish and said, “When

She ridiculed my words and said, when

did I grow so ugly that I became like the full moon?

Have I become dull like the full moon?

البدر لا يرنو بعين كما

البدر لا يرنو بعين كما

أَرنو ولا يبسِم عن ثغر

أَرنو ولا يبسِم عن ثغر

The full moon does not gaze with an eye as

The full moon does not wink with an eye as

I gaze, nor does it smile to reveal its teeth;

I wink, nor does it smile with a mouth

ولا يُميط المِرط عن ناهد

ولا يُميط المِرط عن ناهد

ولا يشُدّ العِقْد في نحر

ولا يشُدّ العِقْد في نحر

nor does it draw the mantle away from a swelling breast,

It does not remove its veil from its cheek

nor fasten the necklace at a throat.

Nor tighten a necklace around its neck

من قاس بالبدر صِفاتي فلا

من قاس بالبدر صِفاتي فلا

زال أسيراً في يَدَيْ هجري

زال أسيراً في يَدَيْ هجري

Whoever compares my qualities to the full moon—may he never

He who compares my attributes to the full moon

cease to be a captive in the hands of my rejection.”

Remains forever captive to my rejection