لاحظتُه والبدرُ ليلةَ تَمِّهِ

لاحظتُه والبدرُ ليلةَ تَمِّهِ

قد لاح فوقَ قميصِه المزرورِ

قد لاح فوقَ قميصِه المزرورِ

I gazed at him, while the full moon, on the night of its fullness,

I saw him when the full moon shone

had shone above his buttoned shirt.

Its light on his embroidered shirt.

فرأيتُ صُدْغيهِ وقد سَالا على

فرأيتُ صُدْغيهِ وقد سَالا على

وَجَناتِه مِسْكاً على كافورِ

وَجَناتِه مِسْكاً على كافورِ

So I saw his two sidelocks, which had flowed over

I saw his cheeks where perfume ran

his cheeks—musk upon camphor.

Like musk on camphor very white.

وكأنَّ خَطَّ عِذارِه في خدِّهِ

وكأنَّ خَطَّ عِذارِه في خدِّهِ

سَطْرَا ظلامٍ في صحيفةِ نُورِ

سَطْرَا ظلامٍ في صحيفةِ نُورِ

And it was as though the line of his cheek-down on his cheek

His mole was like a line of dark

were two lines of darkness on a page of light.

Inscribed on parchment fair and bright.