عَهِدناكَ بَدراً تُروقُ العُيون

عَهِدناكَ بَدراً تُروقُ العُيون

فَأَخفى كُسوفٌ بِهِ مَطلَعَه

فَأَخفى كُسوفٌ بِهِ مَطلَعَه

We knew you as a full moon, delighting the eyes.

We knew you as a full moon that delights the eyes,

Then an eclipse upon it concealed its rising.

But an eclipse has obscured its rising.

وَجالَ بِخَدِّكَ ماءُ الجَمالِ

وَجالَ بِخَدِّكَ ماءُ الجَمالِ

فَكَدَّر صَرفُ البِلى مَشرَعَه

فَكَدَّر صَرفُ البِلى مَشرَعَه

And beauty’s water coursed over your cheek.

On your cheek flowed the water of beauty,

Then decay’s ravages muddied its watering-place.

Yet the turning of fate has dirtied its stream.

وَكُنتَ لِأَهلِ الهَوى مَفزَعاً

وَكُنتَ لِأَهلِ الهَوى مَفزَعاً

فَصِرتَ لِأَعيُنِهِم مَفزَعَه

فَصِرتَ لِأَعيُنِهِم مَفزَعَه

And you were a refuge for lovers.

You were a refuge for the people of passion,

Then you became a terror to their eyes.

But became a cause of grief for their eyes.