وَقَد كُنتُ في ذاكَ الزَمانِ الَّذي مَضى

وَقَد كُنتُ في ذاكَ الزَمانِ الَّذي مَضى

أُزارُ وَيَدعوني الهَوى فَأَزورُ

أُزارُ وَيَدعوني الهَوى فَأَزورُ

And in that bygone time, I used to be

I was in that bygone era

Visited; passion would call me, so I would visit.

When passion would call me, so I visited

فَإِن فاتَني إِلفٌ ظَلَلتُ كَأَنَّما

فَإِن فاتَني إِلفٌ ظَلَلتُ كَأَنَّما

يُديرُ حَياتي في يَدَيهِ مُديرُ

يُديرُ حَياتي في يَدَيهِ مُديرُ

So if a beloved eluded me, I would remain as though

If a loved one left me, I lingered as though

Someone were turning my life about in his hands.

My life was in his hands to direct

وَمُرتَجَّةِ الأَردافِ مَهضومَةِ الحَشا

وَمُرتَجَّةِ الأَردافِ مَهضومَةِ الحَشا

تَحورُ بِسحرٍعَينُها وَتَدورُ

تَحورُ بِسحرٍعَينُها وَتَدورُ

And a woman with quivering buttocks and a slender waist—

With a swaying backside and soft buttocks

Her eye turns back and roves with enchantment.

Her eyes would enchant and turn

إِذا نَظَرَت صَبَّت عَلَيكَ صَبابَةً

إِذا نَظَرَت صَبَّت عَلَيكَ صَبابَةً

وَكادَت قُلوبُ العالَمينَ تَطيرِ

وَكادَت قُلوبُ العالَمينَ تَطيرِ

When she looks, she pours ardent longing upon you,

When she glanced, she poured sweetness over you

And the hearts of all mankind nearly take flight.

And almost made the hearts of all fly

خَلَوتُ بِها لا يَخلُصُ الماءُ بَينَنا

خَلَوتُ بِها لا يَخلُصُ الماءُ بَينَنا

إِلى الصُبحِ دوني حاجِبٌ وَسُتورُ

إِلى الصُبحِ دوني حاجِبٌ وَسُتورُ

I was alone with her—no water could pass between us—

I was alone with her, no water came between us

Until dawn, screened by a doorkeeper and curtains.

Till dawn, with only a curtain and wall between us