ظبيٌ تَغارُ الشمسُ من حُسنهِ

ظبيٌ تَغارُ الشمسُ من حُسنهِ

ماءُ الحَيا من خَدِّهِ يَقْطُرُ

ماءُ الحَيا من خَدِّهِ يَقْطُرُ

A gazelle—the sun is jealous of his beauty;

A gazelle whose beauty makes the sun jealous.

The water of life drips from his cheek.

Rainwater drips from his cheek.

مُبتَسِمٌ عن جوهرٍ رائعٍ

مُبتَسِمٌ عن جوهرٍ رائعٍ

يَفوحُ منهُ المسكُ والعنبرُ

يَفوحُ منهُ المسكُ والعنبرُ

Smiling, he reveals radiant jewels,

He smiles, revealing dazzling jewels.

And from him waft musk and ambergris.

Musk and ambergris waft from him.

إذا مَشَى أخجلَ سُمرَ القَنَا

إذا مَشَى أخجلَ سُمرَ القَنَا

وحارَ فيه عقلُ مَن ينظُرُ

وحارَ فيه عقلُ مَن ينظُرُ

When he walks, he puts the dusky lances to shame,

When he walks, he puts the dusky spear-shafts to shame.

And the mind of whoever gazes at him is bewildered.

And the mind of whoever gazes at him is bewildered.

ما فيهِ من عَيبٍ سِوَى أنَّه

ما فيهِ من عَيبٍ سِوَى أنَّه

إذا أَردْنَا وصلَه يَهجُرُ

إذا أَردْنَا وصلَه يَهجُرُ

There is no flaw in him, except that

He has no flaw except that

Whenever we seek union with him, he forsakes us.

When we seek union with him, he shuns us.