لو رَحَّبَتْ كاسٌ بذي أوبةٍ

لو رَحَّبَتْ كاسٌ بذي أوبةٍ

لرحَّبَتْ بالوردِ إذ زارَها

لرحَّبَتْ بالوردِ إذ زارَها

If a cup were to welcome one returning,

If a chalice with fragrance were to welcome

it would welcome the rose when it came to visit.

It would welcome the rose when it came visiting

جاءَ فخِلناهُ خُدوداً بدَتْ

جاءَ فخِلناهُ خُدوداً بدَتْ

مُضرِمَةً من خَجَلٍ نارَها

مُضرِمَةً من خَجَلٍ نارَها

It came, and we took it for cheeks that appeared,

It arrived, so we left it cheeks that appeared

kindling their fire out of bashfulness.

Ablaze with the fire of shyness

كأنما خُيِّرَ في رَوْضَةٍ

كأنما خُيِّرَ في رَوْضَةٍ

طرائِفَ الكُسوةِ فاختارَها

طرائِفَ الكُسوةِ فاختارَها

As though, in a garden, it had been offered a choice

As if it had been given a choice in a garden

of exquisite garments, and had chosen them.

Of the most beautiful garments, and chose them

وعطَّرَ الدُّنيا فطابت به

وعطَّرَ الدُّنيا فطابت به

لا عَدِمتَ دنياكَ عَطَّارَها

لا عَدِمتَ دنياكَ عَطَّارَها

And it perfumed the world, which grew fragrant through it;

And perfumed the world, so it smelled lovely through it

may you never lack your world's perfumer.

May your world never lack its perfumer

قد خلعَ القَطْرُ جلابيبَه

قد خلعَ القَطْرُ جلابيبَه

إلا شظَاياها وأزرارَها

إلا شظَاياها وأزرارَها

The rain has cast off its cloaks,

The rain has taken off its robes

save their fragments and their buttons.

Except for its tatters and buttons