لِلّهِ بَدر المُصلى إِذ مَشى مَرَحاً

لِلّهِ بَدر المُصلى إِذ مَشى مَرَحاً

وَالزَهو يَسحَب ذَيل الدَل وَالخَفر

وَالزَهو يَسحَب ذَيل الدَل وَالخَفر

Praise be to God for al-Musalla’s full moon, as he walked merrily,

For God the full moon rose as he walked playfully,

And pride trailed the train of coquetry and bashfulness.

Dragging the train of his robe and mantle.

وَالطَرف يَرقب نَحو الغَرب مَطلَعَهُ

وَالطَرف يَرقب نَحو الغَرب مَطلَعَهُ

وَالقَلب في حيرة كَالواله الحَصر

وَالقَلب في حيرة كَالواله الحَصر

And the eye watched westward for his rising,

My gaze followed his rising in the west,

And the heart was bewildered, like one love-stricken and tongue-tied.

While my heart was lost in bewilderment and captivation.

وَمُذ أَتاني بَريد القَلب يُخبِرُني

وَمُذ أَتاني بَريد القَلب يُخبِرُني

أَيقَنت أَني كَموسى وَهُوَ كَالخضر

أَيقَنت أَني كَموسى وَهُوَ كَالخضر

And when the heart’s messenger came to me with news,

Since the post brought me news of my heart, announcing

I knew for certain that I was like Moses, and he like al-Khidr.

That I was like Moses, and he was the Green One,

وَدَدتُ أَني في باب البَريد لِكَي

وَدَدتُ أَني في باب البَريد لِكَي

كُلٌّ يَمُرُّ فَأَحظى مِنهُ بِالنَظَر

كُلٌّ يَمُرُّ فَأَحظى مِنهُ بِالنَظَر

I wished I were at Bab al-Barid, so that

I wished I was in the post office so

Everyone might pass, and I might be favored with a glance from him.

That each one who passed might give me a glance.

هَبت لَهُ نَسمة طابَت رَوائحها

هَبت لَهُ نَسمة طابَت رَوائحها

بَل ذاكَ مكتسب مِن ذَيلِهِ العَطر

بَل ذاكَ مكتسب مِن ذَيلِهِ العَطر

A breeze blew toward him, its fragrances grown sweet;

A sweet breeze blew towards him, its fragrance enhanced

Rather, that was acquired from his fragrant hem.

By the perfume gained from his trailing robe.