ظبيٌ بلبنان قد سلت لواحظه

ظبيٌ بلبنان قد سلت لواحظه

للعاشقين سيوف الغنج والحور

للعاشقين سيوف الغنج والحور

A gazelle in Lebanon—his glances have unsheathed

A gazelle in Lebanon has unleashed its glances

For lovers the swords of coquetry and dark-eyed beauty.

Like swords of love and cheek for lovers

مورد الخد ساجي الطرف مبتسم

مورد الخد ساجي الطرف مبتسم

عن الحباب وعن طلع وعن درر

عن الحباب وعن طلع وعن درر

Rosy-cheeked, tranquil of gaze, smiling

The watering place of affection, tender-eyed, smiling

To reveal bubbles, palm blossoms, and pearls.

About the cheeks and blossoms and pearls

في ذمة اللَه ذاك الريم إن له

في ذمة اللَه ذاك الريم إن له

بين الجوانح عهداً غير مندثرِ

بين الجوانح عهداً غير مندثرِ

May that gazelle be in God's keeping, for he has

By God, that beloved, if he has

Between my ribs a pledge never effaced.

A covenant in the heart that cannot fade

أفديه من قمرٍ كم بت أرصده

أفديه من قمرٍ كم بت أرصده

شوقاً له وهو في سمعي وفي بصري

شوقاً له وهو في سمعي وفي بصري

I would ransom him, such a moon—how often I have spent the night watching for him,

I would ransom him with a moon - how many have I surveyed

Longing for him, while he is in my hearing and in my sight.

Yearning for him, while he's in my hearing and in my sight

لو لم يكن قمراً ضاءت محاسنه

لو لم يكن قمراً ضاءت محاسنه

ما أصبحت داره تعزى إلى القمر

ما أصبحت داره تعزى إلى القمر

Had he not been a moon whose charms shone,

If he were not a moon, his attributes would shine so bright

His dwelling would not have come to be ascribed to the moon.

That his abode would not be ascribed to the moon's light