يا لَيلَةً باتَ فيها البَدرُ مُعتَنِقي

يا لَيلَةً باتَ فيها البَدرُ مُعتَنِقي

وَالناسُ بِالبَدرِ وَالظَلماءِ في شُغُلِ

وَالناسُ بِالبَدرِ وَالظَلماءِ في شُغُلِ

O night when the full moon spent the night embracing me,

O night when the full moon embraced me

while people were preoccupied with the full moon and the darkness!

While people were busy with the moon and darkness

بِتنا نَفُضُّ عُقوداً لِلحَديثِ فَإِن

بِتنا نَفُضُّ عُقوداً لِلحَديثِ فَإِن

فَصَّلتُها فَبِتَشذيرٍ مِنَ القُبَلِ

فَصَّلتُها فَبِتَشذيرٍ مِنَ القُبَلِ

We spent the night unstringing necklaces of conversation; and if

We spent it untying the knots of conversation

I divided them, it was with kisses interspersed like gems.

I detailed them with scattered kisses

قُل في الزُلالِ إِذا وافى عَلى ظَمَإٍ

قُل في الزُلالِ إِذا وافى عَلى ظَمَإٍ

فَقَد دَلَلتَ عَلى التَفصيلِ بِالجُمَلِ

فَقَد دَلَلتَ عَلى التَفصيلِ بِالجُمَلِ

Speak of clear, sweet water when it comes upon thirst:

Say, when clear water meets thirst

you have thus conveyed the details in summary.

You have illustrated the whole with parts