1. خُذها اليك من الغزال الاحور

    يحكي تنسمها نسيم العنبرِ

    Take it from the dark-eyed gazelle;

    breathing its scent is like breathing a breeze of ambergris.

  2. أهدى السرور غداة اهدى شادنٌ

    طرباً اليك تحية النيلوفر

    A young gazelle brought joy the morning he offered

    you, joyfully, the water lily's greeting.

  3. متطوساً في لونه متعصفراً

    احسن بمنظره وطيب المخبر

    Peacock-like in its coloring, safflower-dyed—

    how lovely its appearance, how sweet its inner nature!

  4. أضحى يغار على ملاحة حسنه

    فيظلّ يسترها وان لم يستر

    It has grown jealous over the charm of its beauty,

    so it keeps concealing it, though it is not itself veiled.

  5. ينضمّ ضمّ العاشقَينِ تلاقيا

    من بعد طول تفرقٍ وتحسُّر

    It folds shut as two lovers embrace when they meet,

    after long separation and sorrowful longing.

  6. وإذا تفتّح مكرهاً ابدى لنا

    لوناً يميل إلى فصوص الجوهر

    And when forced to open, it reveals to us

    a hue akin to that of cut precious stones.

  7. وكأنّما أوراقه مصقولة

    شق الحرير التستريّ الاخضر

    And it is as though its polished leaves were

    a piece of green Tustari silk.

  8. ويخاله الراءون نجماً ساطعاً

    لبس الحداد على فراق المشتري

    And onlookers take it for a shining star

    clad in mourning for its parting from Jupiter.

  9. إِلفُ المياه تشاكلا بلباقة

    فمتى يفارق شكله لم يبصر

    It is water's companion; the two are gracefully alike;

    so whenever it leaves its counterpart, it is no longer seen.

  10. فيعوم طوراً ثم يرفع رأسه

    بتخنثٍ وتأودٍ وتكسُّر

    So it floats awhile, then raises its head

    with effeminate softness, supple bending, and languid swaying.