لَم تَنصفي يا سميّةَ الذَهَب

لَم تَنصفي يا سميّةَ الذَهَب

تتلفُ نَفسي وأَنتِ في لَعِبِ

تتلفُ نَفسي وأَنتِ في لَعِبِ

You have not dealt fairly, O golden Sumayya;

You have not been fair, O namesake of gold.

You were not fair, O musky dark-tressed Sumeya,

you destroy my soul while you are at play.

You destroy my soul while you are at play.

My soul is ruined while you play.

يا ابنة عمّ المسك الزَكي وَمن

يا ابنة عمّ المسك الزَكي وَمن

لولاكِ لَم يُتَّخذ وَلَم يَطبِ

لولاكِ لَم يُتَّخذ وَلَم يَطبِ

O cousin of fragrant musk—which,

O cousin of fragrant musk, and you

O niece of sweet smelling musk,

but for you, would neither be prized nor smell sweet.

without whom it would neither be made nor smell sweet.

If not for you, perfume would not exist nor would it be prized.

ناسَبَك المِسك في السواد وَفي الر

ناسَبَك المِسك في السواد وَفي الر

رِيحِ فأَكرم بِذاكَ مِن نسَبِ

رِيحِ فأَكرم بِذاكَ مِن نسَبِ

Musk resembles you in blackness and in fra-

Musk is akin to you in blackness and in

Musk suits your dark locks and your fragrance -

grance—how noble a kinship that is!

scent—how noble that kinship is!

So you are honored for that lineage.