يَقولونَthey say لَمّاwhen نَمَّappeared آسُmyrtle عِذارِهِhis cheek-down
يَقولونَ لَمّا نَمَّ آسُ عِذارِهِ
سَلاforgot its love كُلُّevery قَلبٍheart كانَwas مِنهُbecause of him سَقيماlovesick
سَلا كُلُّ قَلبٍ كانَ مِنهُ سَقيما
They say, when the myrtle of his cheek-down appeared,
They say, when passion's folly died away,
Every heart made lovesick by him forgot its love.
Each heart that felt the bliss had woeful price to pay.
لَقَدindeed كُنتُI used to أَهوىlove وَرَدَthe rose of خَدَّيهِhis two cheeks زائِراًas a visitor
لَقَد كُنتُ أَهوى وَرَدَ خَدَّيهِ زائِراً
فَكَيفَso how إِذاwhen ماemphatic particle الأَمرُthe matter جاءَcame مُقيماstaying
فَكَيفَ إِذا ما الأَمرُ جاءَ مُقيما
Indeed, I loved the rose of his cheeks as a visitor;
The cheeks I loved to kiss, these roamed I over free;
So how will it be when the matter comes to stay?
What if in fixed abode such transient love should be!