يا أَحسَنَ الناسِ ريقاً غَيرَ مُختَبِرٍ

يا أَحسَنَ الناسِ ريقاً غَيرَ مُختَبِرٍ

إِلّا شَهادَةَ أَطرافِ المَساويكِ

إِلّا شَهادَةَ أَطرافِ المَساويكِ

O you whose saliva is sweetest of all, though I have not tasted it,

O fairest of people in appearance, not tested

Save through the testimony of the tips of the tooth-cleaning sticks.

Except by the testimony of the ends of the tent-poles,

قَد زُرتِني مَرَّةً في الدَهرِ واحِدَةً

قَد زُرتِني مَرَّةً في الدَهرِ واحِدَةً

ثَنّي وَلا تَجعَليها بَيضَةَ الديكِ

ثَنّي وَلا تَجعَليها بَيضَةَ الديكِ

You have visited me only once in all my life;

You visited me once in life, only once,

Visit a second time, and do not make it a rooster’s egg.

Make it two, and do not let it be the cock's egg.