تَرَجَّلَ وَضَّاحٌ وأَسبَلَ بَعدَما

تَرَجَّلَ وَضَّاحٌ وأَسبَلَ بَعدَما

تَكَهَّلَ حِيناً في الكُهُولِ وَمَا احتَلَم

تَكَهَّلَ حِيناً في الكُهُولِ وَمَا احتَلَم

Waddah reached manhood and grew whiskers, after

acting middle-aged awhile among middle-aged men, though he had not reached puberty.

وَعُلِّقَ بَيضَاءَ العَوَارِضِ طَفلَةً

وَعُلِّقَ بَيضَاءَ العَوَارِضِ طَفلَةً

مُخَضَّبةَ الأطرَافِ طَيِّبةَ النَّسَم

مُخَضَّبةَ الأطرَافِ طَيِّبةَ النَّسَم

And he fell in love with a delicate young woman, white of teeth,

Her hands and feet henna-dyed, her breath sweet.

إِذَا قُلتُ يَوماً نَوِّلِيني تَبَسَّمَت

إِذَا قُلتُ يَوماً نَوِّلِيني تَبَسَّمَت

وَقَالَت مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ مِن فِعلِ مَا حَرُم

وَقَالَت مَعَاذَ اللَّهِ مِن فِعلِ مَا حَرُم

When I said one day, “Grant me your favor,” she smiled

And said, “God preserve me from doing what is forbidden.”

فَمَا نَوَّلَت حَتَّى تَضَرَّعَتُ عِندَها

فَمَا نَوَّلَت حَتَّى تَضَرَّعَتُ عِندَها

وأَعلَمتُها مَا رَخَّصَ اللَّهُ في اللَّمَم

وأَعلَمتُها مَا رَخَّصَ اللَّهُ في اللَّمَم

So she granted me nothing until I pleaded before her

And told her what God has permitted in minor transgressions.