يقولsays محبوبيmy beloved لغصنto the bough النقاthe sand dune
يقول محبوبي لغصن النقا
والروضand the garden منfrom نشرthe fragrance الصباthe east wind عاطرُfragrant
والروض من نشر الصبا عاطرُ
My beloved says to the bough on the sand dune,
My beloved said to the bending branch of Nqa:
while the garden is fragrant with the east wind’s scent:
Though the garden is fragrant from the morning breeze,
لاdo not تدعيclaim أنكthat you إذwhen تنثنيyou bend
لا تدعي أنك إذ تنثني
مثليlike me فهذاfor this غلطٌa mistake ظاهرُobvious
مثلي فهذا غلطٌ ظاهرُ
“Do not claim that, when you bend,
Do not claim that when you bend
you are like me—for this is an obvious mistake.”
You are like me, for that is a clear mistake.