أَيَا ظَبْيَةَ الوَعْساءِ أَنْتِ شَبِيهَةٌ

أَيَا ظَبْيَةَ الوَعْساءِ أَنْتِ شَبِيهَةٌ

بِذَلْفَاءَ إلاَّ أَنَّ ذَلْفَاءَ أجْدَلُ

بِذَلْفَاءَ إلاَّ أَنَّ ذَلْفَاءَ أجْدَلُ

O gazelle of the soft sands, you are like

O gazelle-eyed one with graceful neck, you are like a doe

Dhalfa, except that Dhalfa is more firmly built.

Except a doe is more delicate.

فَعَيْناكِ عَيْنَاهَا وجِيدُكِ جِيدُها

فَعَيْناكِ عَيْنَاهَا وجِيدُكِ جِيدُها

وشَكْلُكِ إلاَّ أنَّها لا تَعَطَّلُ

وشَكْلُكِ إلاَّ أنَّها لا تَعَطَّلُ

For your eyes are her eyes, and your neck her neck,

Your eyes are her eyes, your neck is her neck,

And your form hers—except that she does not go unadorned.

Your form is hers, if only she could not be captured.