غدرتshe was faithless بعهدto the covenant of الحبlove خاذلةforsaking الهوىpassion
غدرت بعهد الحب خاذلة الهوى
والذنبand the blame فيهاin her case للزمانbelongs to time الغادرthe treacherous
والذنب فيها للزمان الغادر
She betrayed love’s covenant, forsaking passion;
She was faithless to love’s covenant, forsaking passion,
yet the blame for her lies with treacherous Time.
And the blame for her betrayal lies with treacherous time.
انif ساءهاdispleased her منيin me البياضwhiteness فربماyet many a time
ان ساءها مني البياض فربما
قدalready سرّهاdelighted her منيof mine سوادblackness of غدائريmy tresses
قد سرّها مني سواد غدائري
If the whiteness in me displeased her, perhaps
If the white in my hair displeased her, yet many a time
the blackness of my locks had once delighted her.
The blackness of my tresses had delighted her.
