لماwhen تبدتappeared ديميةdimity cloth فيin ساعةa moment
لما تبدت ديمية في ساعة
تحكيهاresembles it نملاants عجيبwondrous فوقabove عجdust
تحكيها نملا عجيب فوق عج
When a piece of dimity appeared one moment,
When Dima appeared at an hour
wondrous ants upon dust resembled it.
Told of by ants, atop a palm's stump,
وقيلand it was said كفa palm رصعتهstudded it حناءhenna
وقيل كف رصعته حناء
وقيلand it was said مسكmusk فوقabove وردroses قدalready عرجascended
وقيل مسك فوق ورد قد عرج
And it was said: a palm studded with henna.
Some said her palm adorned with henna,
And it was said: musk that had risen above roses.
Some, musk atop roses inclined,
وقيلand it was said خدa cheek زينتهadorned it خيلانbeauty spots
وقيل خد زينته خيلان
وقيلand it was said روضa garden فيهin it وردroses انبهجrejoiced
وقيل روض فيه ورد انبهج
And it was said: a cheek adorned with beauty spots.
Some, her cheek graced by moles,
And it was said: a garden in which roses rejoiced.
Some, a garden where roses delight.