ومجرّدٍ كالنَّصلِ أسلْمَ نفسَه

ومجرّدٍ كالنَّصلِ أسلْمَ نفسَه

لمجرَّدٍ يكسوه ما لا ينسُجُ

لمجرَّدٍ يكسوه ما لا ينسُجُ

And one stripped bare, like a blade, surrendered himself

Bare like a blade he surrendered himself

To one stripped bare, who clothes him in what he does not weave:

To one bare whom no garment adorns

ثوباً تمزِّقُهُ الأناملُ رِقَّةً

ثوباً تمزِّقُهُ الأناملُ رِقَّةً

ويُذيبُه الماءُ القَرَاح فيبهُجُ

ويُذيبُه الماءُ القَرَاح فيبهُجُ

A garment so delicate that fingertips tear it,

A garment fingers shred for its softness

And pure water dissolves it, so he looks splendid.

And dew dissolves leaving gleaming wetness

فكأنه لَمَّا التقى في خَصره

فكأنه لَمَّا التقى في خَصره

نصفان ذا عاجٌ وذا فَيروزَجُ

نصفان ذا عاجٌ وذا فَيروزَجُ

So it was as though, when at his waist there met

As if when joined at the waist

Two halves, this one were ivory and that one turquoise.

One half agate, one half turquoise