ذُرىtops شجرٍtrees للطَّيْرِfor the birds فيهِin it تَشاجُرُquarreling
ذُرى شجرٍ للطَّيْرِ فيهِ تَشاجُرُ
كأَنَّas though صُنُوفَkinds النَّوْرِthe blossoms فيهِin it جَواهِرُjewels
كأَنَّ صُنُوفَ النَّوْرِ فيهِ جَواهِرُ
Treetops where the birds squabble,
Branches of trees for the birds to quarrel in
As though the varied blossoms there were jewels.
As if gems of light were scattered about in it
كأَنَّas though القَمارِيthe turtle doves والبَلابِلَand the bulbuls بَيْنَنَاamong us
كأَنَّ القَمارِي والبَلابِلَ بَيْنَنَا
قِيانٌsinging slave girls وأَوراقُand the leaves الغُصُونِthe branches سَتائِرُcurtains
قِيانٌ وأَوراقُ الغُصُونِ سَتائِرُ
As though the turtle doves and bulbuls among us
As if bulbuls and nightingales were between us
Were singing girls, and the branches’ leaves were curtains.
Singing, and leaves on branches were curtains
شَرِبْناwe drank علىto the accompaniment of ذاكَthat التَّرَنُّمِmelodious singing قَهْوَةًwine
شَرِبْنا على ذاكَ التَّرَنُّمِ قَهْوَةً
كأَنَّas though عَلىon حَافَاتِهاits edges الدُّرَّpearls دَائِرُencircling
كأَنَّ عَلى حَافَاتِها الدُّرَّ دَائِرُ
We drank wine to that melodious singing,
We drank coffee to that singing
As though pearls encircled its edges.
As if pearls circled its edges