أَقبَلَتshe approached كَالبَدرِlike the full moon تَسعىhastening
أَقبَلَت كَالبَدرِ تَسعى
غَلَساًin the predawn gloom نَحويtoward me بِراحِwith wine
غَلَساً نَحوي بِراحِ
She approached like the full moon, hastening—
She came hastening like the full moon,
in the predawn gloom, toward me with wine.
Toward me in the predawn gloom, with wine.
قُلتُI said أَهلاًwelcome بِفَتاةٍto a maiden
قُلتُ أَهلاً بِفَتاةٍ
حَمَلَتshe carried نورَlight الصَباحِthe morning
حَمَلَت نورَ الصَباحِ
I said, “Welcome to a maiden
I said, "Welcome to a maiden
who bears the light of morning.
Who carried the light of morning.
عَلِّليsoothe (feminine imperative) بِالكَأسِwith the cup مَنone who أَصbegins the word 'became'
عَلِّلي بِالكَأسِ مَن أَص
بَحَcompletes the word 'became' مِنهاfrom it غَيرَnot صاحِsober
بَحَ مِنها غَيرَ صاحِ
Beguile me with the cup—I, who have be-
Soothe with the cup one who has
come through it no longer sober.”
Become, through it, no longer sober."
