شدَا شدْوَ الحمام وماسَ غصنا

شدَا شدْوَ الحمام وماسَ غصنا

غني الحسن يطرب إن تغنى

غني الحسن يطرب إن تغنى

He sang the song of doves and swayed like a bough.

The doves have cooed intensely, and leaned on a branch,

Rich in beauty, he enraptures when he sings.

singing beautifully whenever he sings.

فريدٌ وهو فتَّان التثني

فريدٌ وهو فتَّان التثني

فيا لله من فردٍ تثنى

فيا لله من فردٍ تثنى

Peerless, he is bewitching in his swaying.

Unique, yet a captivating charmer,

So, O God, what a peerless one, swaying!

What a singular man with a duplicitous nature!

بغطفٍ مثل منطقه رشيق

بغطفٍ مثل منطقه رشيق

ولفظ يعجب الأسماع لحنا

ولفظ يعجب الأسماع لحنا

With a graceful bend [uncertain wording], like his speech,

With a gentle demeanor, and eloquent speech,

And speech whose melody delights the ears,

that delights the ears with its melody.

وشكل معرب عن كلّ حسنٍ

وشكل معرب عن كلّ حسنٍ

وخصر مثل جسمي فيه مضنى

وخصر مثل جسمي فيه مضنى

And a form that speaks of every beauty,

A graceful form, embodying every beauty,

And a waist like my body, wasted away for him.

and a slender waist, drawing me in.

فما أشهى محيَّا منه زاهٍ

فما أشهى محيَّا منه زاهٍ

ولحظاً ما رمى قلباً فأسنا

ولحظاً ما رمى قلباً فأسنا

How alluring his radiant face,

How alluring his smile, radiantly beaming,

And a glance that never aimed at a heart and missed!

and a glance that pierces the heart with passion!

وما أشهى عذاراً قد سباني

وما أشهى عذاراً قد سباني

بحرفٍ جاء في حسنٍ لمعنى

بحرفٍ جاء في حسنٍ لمعنى

And how alluring the cheek-down that has captivated me,

How alluring his coquetry, that has enthralled me

With a letter that appeared in beauty to convey a meaning.

with words of beauty and meaning intertwined.