ظبيٌ كنَيتُ بِطَرفي

ظبيٌ كنَيتُ بِطَرفي

عن الضَّميرِ إليهِ

عن الضَّميرِ إليهِ

A gazelle—with my glance I hinted

A gazelle cast me a glance

to him at my hidden thought.

that pierced my heart

قبّلتُهُ مِن بَعيدٍ

قبّلتُهُ مِن بَعيدٍ

فاعتَلَّ مِن شفَتَيهِ

فاعتَلَّ مِن شفَتَيهِ

I kissed him from afar,

I kissed her from afar

so he offered an excuse with his lips.

and she frowned

ورد أحسن رد

ورد أحسن رد

بالكسر من حاجبيه

بالكسر من حاجبيه

And he gave the loveliest reply

with the loveliest frown

with a bend of his brows.

that slightly bent her eyebrows

فما بَرحتُ مكاني

فما بَرحتُ مكاني

حتَّى قَدِرتُ عليهِ

حتَّى قَدِرتُ عليهِ

So I did not leave my place

So I stood there unmoving

until I gained power over him.

until I prevailed upon her