بقّلتsprouted greens وجنةcheek of المليحthe handsome one وقدand already ولّdeparted (ولّى continues on the next line)
بقّلت وجنة المليح وقد ولّ
ىcompletes ولّى: departed زمانthe time of الضناlovesick wasting الذيthat كنتI used to أملكpossess
ى زمان الضنا الذي كنت أملك
The handsome one's cheek has sprouted greens, and gone
The garden of beauty has withered and faded away,
is the time of lovesick wasting that once was mine.
The cruel time I once ruled is no more.
ياO عذارcheek-down of المليحthe handsome one دعنيleave me فإنيfor indeed I
يا عذار المليح دعني فإني
لستI am not فيin ذاthis الزمانage منof خلvinegar (punning on 'friend') بقلكyour greens
لست في ذا الزمان من خل بقلك
O handsome one's cheek-down, leave me, for I
O you with the beautiful face, leave me be,
am not, in this age, vinegar for your greens.
For I am not, in this time, one who merits your company.