لاحَت لَنا وَلَها في ساقِها خَلخال

لاحَت لَنا وَلَها في ساقِها خَلخال

وَقَد تَزيّنَ مِنها خَدُّها بِالخال

وَقَد تَزيّنَ مِنها خَدُّها بِالخال

She came into view before us, an anklet upon her leg.

She appeared before us, with an anklet on her leg.

And one feature of hers—her cheek—was adorned with a beauty mark.

And her cheek was adorned with a beauty mark.

لَما ظَفِرتُ بِها في مَنزلٍ لي خال

لَما ظَفِرتُ بِها في مَنزلٍ لي خال

قُلتُ اِرحَمي مُدنَفاً قالَت نَعَم يا خال

قُلتُ اِرحَمي مُدنَفاً قالَت نَعَم يا خال

When I caught her in a dwelling of mine that stood empty,

When I won her in an empty dwelling of mine,

I said, “Have mercy on a man wasted by love.” She said, “Yes, uncle.”

I said, “Pity a lovesick man”; she said, “Yes, uncle.”

وَأَسفَرَت عَن مُحَيّا مَن رآه خال

وَأَسفَرَت عَن مُحَيّا مَن رآه خال

بَدراً بَدا وَنَضَت عَنها بُرودَ الخال

بَدراً بَدا وَنَضَت عَنها بُرودَ الخال

And she unveiled a face that whoever saw it fancied

And she unveiled a face that whoever saw it imagined

Was a full moon risen; then she cast off her robes of khāl cloth.

A full moon appearing; and she cast off her robes of fine cloth.

كأنها غُصُنٌ بِالرَوضِ مِن ذي خال

كأنها غُصُنٌ بِالرَوضِ مِن ذي خال

وَلا تَسَل ما جَرى مِن ناهدٍ مبخال

وَلا تَسَل ما جَرى مِن ناهدٍ مبخال

She seemed a bough in the gardens of Dhū Khāl.

As though she were a bough in the garden of Dhu Khal,

And ask not what happened with a full-bosomed girl so sparing of her favors.

And do not ask what transpired with a buxom, stingy woman.