وغزيل عبث النسيم بطبعه

وغزيل عبث النسيم بطبعه

فمضى يرنحه كشارب راح

فمضى يرنحه كشارب راح

And a little gazelle—the breeze toyed with his nature,

The breeze toyed lightly with its nature

then went on making him sway like a drinker of wine.

Then drifted by like one drunk with wine

اخذت عقول اولي النهى حركاته

اخذت عقول اولي النهى حركاته

وافاضت الافراح للارواح

وافاضت الافراح للارواح

His movements captivated the minds of the wise,

It captivated the minds of the wise

and poured out joy upon souls.

And brought joy to souls

يا عاذلا جهل الهوى وشؤنه

يا عاذلا جهل الهوى وشؤنه

مهلا اخو الاشواق ليس بلاح

مهلا اخو الاشواق ليس بلاح

O reprover, ignorant of love and its affairs,

O you who rebuke the madness of love!

be gentle: a brother in longing is no reprover.

Gently, O kindred spirit of longing, do not wound

لو غامزتك عيون آرام اللوى

لو غامزتك عيون آرام اللوى

وسطت عليك قدودها برماح

وسطت عليك قدودها برماح

If the eyes of al-Liwa's gazelles winked at you,

If the eyes of the tender gazelle glance your way

and their forms assailed you with spears,

And aim their eyelashes at you like spears

لعذرت مفتون الغرام ولم تمل

لعذرت مفتون الغرام ولم تمل

ما عشت للوام والنصاح

ما عشت للوام والنصاح

you would excuse the one bewitched by love, and never incline,

You would excuse the intoxicated lover and not blame

as long as you lived, toward reprovers and advisers.

As long as you live, for raving or advice

لعذرت مفتون الغرام ولم تمل

لعذرت مفتون الغرام ولم تمل

ما عشت للوام والنصاح

ما عشت للوام والنصاح

you would excuse the one bewitched by love, and never incline,

You would excuse the intoxicated lover and not blame

as long as you lived, toward reprovers and advisers.

As long as you live, for raving or advice

آهى لريم في مفاوز حاجر

آهى لريم في مفاوز حاجر

عاد علي بطرفه الجراح

عاد علي بطرفه الجراح

Ah, for a gazelle in the wastelands of Hajir!

Alas for Layla in the wilderness of Hajar

His glance brought the wounds back upon me.

Her glances have wounded me again

اصحو واسكر في جفاه وقربه

اصحو واسكر في جفاه وقربه

فاعذر لسكران برونق صاح

فاعذر لسكران برونق صاح

I grow sober at his coldness and drunk at his nearness;

I wake and sleep under her eyes and proximity

so pardon one drunk on a sober one's radiance.

So excuse the babbling of one drunk with passion’s wine