وكأسٍ كأنَ المسكَ فيها حسوتُها

وكأسٍ كأنَ المسكَ فيها حسوتُها

ونازعنيها صاحب لي ملوّم

ونازعنيها صاحب لي ملوّم

And a cup—as though it contained musk—I sipped it down;

And a cup I sipped, as though musk were in it,

A companion of mine, much censured, shared it with me—

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

أغرُّ كأنّ البدرَ سنّة وجَهه

أغرُّ كأنّ البدرَ سنّة وجَهه

له كفل وافٍ وفرعُ ومَبسم

له كفل وافٍ وفرعُ ومَبسم

Radiant, as though the full moon were the likeness of his face,

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

Possessing ample haunches, hair, and a mouth.

He has ample haunches, tresses, and a smiling mouth.

يُضيء دُجى الظلماء رونَق خدهِ

يُضيء دُجى الظلماء رونَق خدهِ

وينجابُ عنه الليل والليلُ مظلم

وينجابُ عنه الليل والليلُ مظلم

The radiance of his cheek lights the blackest darkness,

The lustre of his cheek illuminates the dark night's gloom,

And night parts from him, though night is dark.

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

وثديانِ كالحنقينِ والمتنُ مدمجٌ

وثديانِ كالحنقينِ والمتنُ مدمجٌ

وجيد عليه نَسقَ درٍّ منظَّم

وجيد عليه نَسقَ درٍّ منظَّم

Two breasts like rounded caskets, and a compactly knit back,

And two breasts like two small caskets [uncertain reading], and a firm, compact back,

And a neck bearing a strand of ordered pearls,

and a neck bearing an orderly string of pearls;

وبطن طواه اللَه طيّا ومنطِقٌ

وبطن طواه اللَه طيّا ومنطِقٌ

رخيمٌ وردِفٌ نيطَ بالحقو مفأم

رخيمٌ وردِفٌ نيطَ بالحقو مفأم

A belly God fashioned slenderly, and speech

and a belly God drew tightly in, and a voice

Soft and mellow, and an ample rump joined to the waist.

soft and mellow, and full, rounded buttocks attached to the waist.

به تَبَلتني واستبتني وغادرت

به تَبَلتني واستبتني وغادرت

لظىً في فؤادي نارُها تتضرّم

لظىً في فؤادي نارُها تتضرّم

Through this she enthralled me, took me captive, and left

With this she made me lovesick, captured me, and left

A blaze within my heart, its fire flaring.

a blaze in my heart, its fire raging.

أبيتُ بها أهدي إذا الليلُ جنّني

أبيتُ بها أهدي إذا الليلُ جنّني

وأصبح مبهوتاً فما أتكلّم

وأصبح مبهوتاً فما أتكلّم

I spend the night finding my way by her when night envelops me,

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

And awaken dumbfounded, unable to speak.

and wake bewildered, so I do not speak.

فمن مُبلغُ قومي الدنا أن مُهجتي

فمن مُبلغُ قومي الدنا أن مُهجتي

تُبين لئن بانت ألا تتلوم

تُبين لئن بانت ألا تتلوم

Who will tell my nearest kin that my soul

Who, then, will tell my nearest kin that my soul

Will depart if she departs, and will not linger?

will depart if she departs, without lingering?

وعهدي بها واللَه يُصلح بالها

وعهدي بها واللَه يُصلح بالها

تجود على مَن يُشتهيها وتُنعم

تجود على مَن يُشتهيها وتُنعم

As I have known her—may God set her condition aright—

As I have known her—may God set her affairs right—

She is generous to whoever desires her and grants favor.

she gives generously to whoever desires her, and bestows favors.

فما بالُها ضنَّت عليّ بودّها

فما بالُها ضنَّت عليّ بودّها

وقلبي لها يا قوم عانٍ متيّم

وقلبي لها يا قوم عانٍ متيّم

Why, then, has she withheld her affection from me,

What is wrong with her, then, that she has withheld her affection from me,

While my heart, my people, is her lovesick captive?

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