ياAh ربmany a غانيةbeautiful woman بيضاءwhite-skinned تصحبنيprovides me with
يا رب غانية بيضاء تصحبني
منof العتابreproach كؤوساًcups ليسnot تنساغُgo down easily
من العتاب كؤوساً ليس تنساغُ
Ah, many a white-skinned beauty provides me with
O Lord, a fair companion accompanies me,
Cups of reproach that will not go down.
Cups of reproach do not go down easily.
أشتاقI long for طرتهاher forelock أمor صدغهاher temple lock ومعيand with me
أشتاق طرتها أم صدغها ومعي
منfrom كلهاall of her طررforelocks سوردunclear; possibly 'black' واصداغand temple locks
من كلها طرر سورد واصداغ
Do I long for her forelock or her temple lock, while I have
I yearn for its scent or its cheek, and with me
From all of her, [black?] forelocks and temple locks?
Are sparks of chalcedony and silver ornaments from all of it.
كأنناas though we لاnot أتاحallowed اللهGod فرقتناour parting
كأننا لا أتاح الله فرقتنا
ياO لعبةdoll المسكmusk بازhawk تحتهbeneath it زاغcrow
يا لعبة المسك باز تحته زاغ
It is as though we—may God never allow our parting—
It's as if God did not allow our separation,
O doll of musk, were a hawk with a crow beneath it.
O game of musk under which a crow lurked.