وَقَدْ أَغْدَتْ بِنَا فِي الْيَمِّ جَارِيَةٌ

وَقَدْ أَغْدَتْ بِنَا فِي الْيَمِّ جَارِيَةٌ

سَوْدَاءُ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ الْجَرْيَ فِي يَبِسِ

سَوْدَاءُ لاَ تَسْتَطِيعُ الْجَرْيَ فِي يَبِسِ

And a ship set out with us at dawn upon the sea,

She sails with us through the sea, a dark maiden

And early at dawn, a running vessel bore us into the sea,

Black, unable to run on dry land.

Unable to race on dry land

Pitch-black, unable to race upon dry land;

كَأَنَّهَا وَعُبَابُ الْمَاءِ يُزْعِجُهَا

كَأَنَّهَا وَعُبَابُ الْمَاءِ يُزْعِجُهَا

تَنُصُّ جِيدَ مَرَاعِي اللَّحْظِ مُخْتَلِسِ

تَنُصُّ جِيدَ مَرَاعِي اللَّحْظِ مُخْتَلِسِ

As though, while the water’s surge tosses her,

As though she were a water mirage, disturbed

As if she, while the water's surging waves agitate her,

She cranes the neck of a furtive, watchful gazer.

She gently kisses the gaze of the onlooker

Lifts the neck of a wary gazer, stealing glances.

كَأَنَّ بِيضَ نَوَاصِيهَا إِذَا انْتَشَرَتْ

كَأَنَّ بِيضَ نَوَاصِيهَا إِذَا انْتَشَرَتْ

لِوَاءُ صُبْحٍ بَدَا فِي سُدْفَةِ الْغَلَسِ

لِوَاءُ صُبْحٍ بَدَا فِي سُدْفَةِ الْغَلَسِ

As though her white forelocks, when unfurled,

As though when her bow's whiteness spreads

As if the white of her forelocks, when they unfurl,

Were dawn’s banner appearing in the gloom before daybreak.

The flag of dawn emerges amidst the gloom

Were a banner of dawn emerging in the predawn gloom.