لما على وجنته نثر الحسن أوراق

لما على وجنته نثر الحسن أوراق

وبان مثل الغبار بخدهِ البرَّاق

وبان مثل الغبار بخدهِ البرَّاق

When beauty scattered leaves upon his cheek,

When beauty scattered petals on his cheeks,

And it appeared like dust on his gleaming cheek,

And his shining face looked like specks of dust,

قالوا تغيّر جماله قلت لا بل راق

قالوا تغيّر جماله قلت لا بل راق

ما ينقص التبر نقش التبر بالاحراق

ما ينقص التبر نقش التبر بالاحراق

They said, “His beauty has changed.” I said, “No, rather it has grown lovelier.”

They said, “His beauty is diminished.” I said, “Nay, it is enhanced,

Engraving gold with fire does not diminish gold.

Engraving on gold loses naught when branded.”