وكأسٍ كأنَ المسكَ فيها حسوتُها

وكأسٍ كأنَ المسكَ فيها حسوتُها

ونازعنيها صاحب لي ملوّم

ونازعنيها صاحب لي ملوّم

And I sipped a cup that seemed to hold musk,

A cup, as if musk's aroma in it I sensed

and a much-reproached companion of mine shared it with me.

A companion disputed it from me, to him I'm hostile

أغرُّ كأنّ البدرَ سنّة وجَهه

أغرُّ كأنّ البدرَ سنّة وجَهه

له كفل وافٍ وفرعُ ومَبسم

له كفل وافٍ وفرعُ ومَبسم

Bright-faced, as though the full moon were the likeness of his face,

So radiant, as if the full moon his face

he has full buttocks, a head of hair, and a smiling mouth.

Smooth cheek, branched sideburns, a smile

يُضيء دُجى الظلماء رونَق خدهِ

يُضيء دُجى الظلماء رونَق خدهِ

وينجابُ عنه الليل والليلُ مظلم

وينجابُ عنه الليل والليلُ مظلم

His cheek’s radiance lights the gloom of the dark night,

Illuminating the darkness with his cheek's bloom

and night draws back from him, though the night is dark.

And the night recedes from him, though pitch black

وثديانِ كالحنقينِ والمتنُ مدمجٌ

وثديانِ كالحنقينِ والمتنُ مدمجٌ

وجيد عليه نَسقَ درٍّ منظَّم

وجيد عليه نَسقَ درٍّ منظَّم

And two breasts like two small caskets [uncertain reading], and a firm, well-knit back,

Breasts like two bursting pomegranates and a knit torso

and a neck bearing an ordered string of pearls.

Neck gracefully stacked with pearl necklace

وبطن طواه اللَه طيّا ومنطِقٌ

وبطن طواه اللَه طيّا ومنطِقٌ

رخيمٌ وردِفٌ نيطَ بالحقو مفأم

رخيمٌ وردِفٌ نيطَ بالحقو مفأم

And a belly God has folded tight, and a voice

Waist wrapped by God neatly, a belt

soft and melodious, and an ample rump joined to the waist.

Flowing, silky, tied with strong rope

به تَبَلتني واستبتني وغادرت

به تَبَلتني واستبتني وغادرت

لظىً في فؤادي نارُها تتضرّم

لظىً في فؤادي نارُها تتضرّم

With this she made me lovesick, took me captive, and left

With him I was infatuated, captivated and left

a blaze in my heart, its fire flaring.

In my heart an ember burning from his glow

أبيتُ بها أهدي إذا الليلُ جنّني

أبيتُ بها أهدي إذا الليلُ جنّني

وأصبح مبهوتاً فما أتكلّم

وأصبح مبهوتاً فما أتكلّم

I spend the night raving about her when night enfolds me,

I stayed up as the night maddened me

and reach the morning dazed, so I do not speak.

And woke up distraught, unable to speak

فمن مُبلغُ قومي الدنا أن مُهجتي

فمن مُبلغُ قومي الدنا أن مُهجتي

تُبين لئن بانت ألا تتلوم

تُبين لئن بانت ألا تتلوم

Then who will tell my nearby kin that my soul

So who will tell my people of passion

will depart if she departs, without lingering?

That if revealed, blame should not ensue

وعهدي بها واللَه يُصلح بالها

وعهدي بها واللَه يُصلح بالها

تجود على مَن يُشتهيها وتُنعم

تجود على مَن يُشتهيها وتُنعم

And as I knew her—may God set her affairs aright—

I vowed to him, God rectify his state

she was generous to whoever desired her and bestowed favors.

To gratify whom he desires and indulge

فما بالُها ضنَّت عليّ بودّها

فما بالُها ضنَّت عليّ بودّها

وقلبي لها يا قوم عانٍ متيّم

وقلبي لها يا قوم عانٍ متيّم

Then why has she begrudged me her affection,

Why did he deprive me of his love

while my heart, O my people, is her captive, enslaved by love?

When for him my heart, O people, so eager and ardent