وَذُقتُand I tasted مَهوىdescent النَجمِthe star ريقاًsaliva خَصِراًcool
وَذُقتُ مَهوى النَجمِ ريقاً خَصِراً
لَوif كانَit were مِنfrom ناجودِa flask خَمرٍwine ماnot غَذاit nourished
لَو كانَ مِن ناجودِ خَمرٍ ما غَذا
And I tasted the star’s setting-place—cool saliva.
And I tasted, at the star’s descent, cool saliva.
Had it been wine from a jar, it could not have sustained me.
Had it come from a flask of wine, it would not have nourished.
وَقَدand indeed تَنَعَّمتُI delighted بِنَشرٍin a scent عَطِرٍfragrant
وَقَد تَنَعَّمتُ بِنَشرٍ عَطِرٍ
لَوif كانَit were مِنfrom فارِهِchoice مِسكٍmusk كانَit would be ذاthis
لَو كانَ مِن فارِهِ مِسكٍ كانَ ذا
And I reveled in a waft of fragrant scent.
And I delighted in a fragrant scent.
Were it of choice musk, it would be this.
Had it come from choice musk, it would have been this.
