لِبشرَةَ أَسرى الطَيفُ وَالخَبتُ دونَها

لِبشرَةَ أَسرى الطَيفُ وَالخَبتُ دونَها

وَما بَينَنا مِن حَزنِ أَرضِ وبيدِها

وَما بَينَنا مِن حَزنِ أَرضِ وبيدِها

Bishrah's phantom came by night, though al-Khabt lay between us and her,

For her radiant cheek my longing and yearning remain

And all the rugged land and its deserts between us.

And whatever sorrow lies between us, of land and far plane

وَقَرَّت بِها عَيني وَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَها

وَقَرَّت بِها عَيني وَقَد كُنتُ قَبلَها

كَثيراً بُكائي مُشفِقاً مِن صُدودِها

كَثيراً بُكائي مُشفِقاً مِن صُدودِها

And my eyes found joy in her, though before her coming I had been

My eyes now rest on her, though before her I’d so oft weep

Much given to weeping, fearful of her turning away.

Much did my crying persist, fearing her rebuttals so steep

وبِشرَةُ خَودٌ مِثلُ تِمثالِ بيعَةٍ

وبِشرَةُ خَودٌ مِثلُ تِمثالِ بيعَةٍ

تَظَلُّ النَصارى حَولَها يَومَ عيدِها

تَظَلُّ النَصارى حَولَها يَومَ عيدِها

And Bishrah is a tender maiden, like a statue in a church;

Her cheek's a treasure, like icons pious Christians revere

Christians linger around it on its feast day.

Around it they hover on days their rituals endear