كأنّ ما بي في المجانين

كأنّ ما بي في المجانين

لأنّ ما بي ليس بالدونِ

لأنّ ما بي ليس بالدونِ

It is as though my affliction were that of madmen,

It's as if what's in me belongs to the insane

It seems my state belongs among the mad,

For my affliction is no trifling thing.

Because what's in me is not inferior

For what I suffer is of no low degree.

إنّ الذي تيّمني حبُّهُ

إنّ الذي تيّمني حبُّهُ

أمردُ من نشيءِ الدواوين

أمردُ من نشيءِ الدواوين

Indeed, the one whose love has enthralled me

Indeed, he whose love has made me crazed

The one whose love has taken me in thrall

Is a beardless youth among the bureaus’ young novices.

Is more stubborn than what's in books

Is a beardless youth among the bureau scribes.

قد نشر الطومار في حجرهِ

قد نشر الطومار في حجرهِ

مبتدئاً بالياءِ والسينِ

مبتدئاً بالياءِ والسينِ

He has unrolled the scroll in his lap,

He has unfurled the scroll on his cheek

He spread the parchment scroll upon his lap,

Beginning with yāʾ and sīn.

Starting with "ya" and "seen"

Beginning with the letters Yā and Sīn;

فكادت النفسُ لدى خُطّهِ

فكادت النفسُ لدى خُطّهِ

تخرجُ بين الواوِ والنونِ

تخرجُ بين الواوِ والنونِ

So at his handwriting, my soul almost

So that the soul, at his tattoo

And nigh my soul, as he traced out the script,

Departed between wāw and nūn.

Nearly comes out between the "waw" and "nun"

Departed 'twixt the Wāw and the Nūn.

بطرّز الوردَ على خدّهِ

بطرّز الوردَ على خدّهِ

من عَرَقٍ بالمشكِ معجونِ

من عَرَقٍ بالمشكِ معجونِ

He embroiders the rose upon his cheek

Embroidering roses on his cheek

He embroiders roses upon his cheek

With sweat kneaded with musk.

With sweat mixed with musk

From drops of sweat with fragrant musk infused;

فنصفهُ نرجسةٌ غضّةٌ

فنصفهُ نرجسةٌ غضّةٌ

ونصفهُ من فنَكِ الصينِ

ونصفهُ من فنَكِ الصينِ

So half of him is a tender narcissus,

So half of it is a fresh narcissus

So half of him is a fresh narcissus bloom,

And half of him is Chinese fennec fur.

And half of it is from China's paint

And half of him is softest Chinese fur.