قَدْ قُلْتُ لَمَّا مَرَّ بِي مُعْرِضاً

قَدْ قُلْتُ لَمَّا مَرَّ بِي مُعْرِضاً

كَالبَدْرِ تَحْتَ الغَسَقِ الدَّاجِي

كَالبَدْرِ تَحْتَ الغَسَقِ الدَّاجِي

I said, when he passed me, turning away,

When he passed by me turning away

like the full moon beneath the murky dusk,

Like the moon beneath the darkness of night

يَهْتَزُّ في مَشْيَتِهِ مُتْعَباً

يَهْتَزُّ في مَشْيَتِهِ مُتْعَباً

مِنْ كَفَلٍ كَالمَوْجِ رَجَّاجِ

مِنْ كَفَلٍ كَالمَوْجِ رَجَّاجِ

swaying in his gait, wearied

Swaying wearily as he walked

by a rump that quivered like the waves:

With shoulders like waves crashing foam

وَيْلِي عَلى حَلِّ سَرَاويلِه

وَيْلِي عَلى حَلِّ سَرَاويلِه

فإِنَّهُ شُدَّ على عَاجِ

فإِنَّهُ شُدَّ على عَاجِ

“Woe to me over untying his trousers,

Woe to me for the loosening of his pants

for they were fastened around ivory.”

For they are fastened with ivory