ظَلّتْ مَطَايا المَلاهِي وهي واجِفَةٌ

ظَلّتْ مَطَايا المَلاهِي وهي واجِفَةٌ

وظَلّلَتْنا مَطَايا الوَرْدِ والآسِ

وظَلّلَتْنا مَطَايا الوَرْدِ والآسِ

The mounts of merriment kept on, racing,

The steeds of revelry remained idle and neglected

And the mounts of roses and myrtle shaded us.

While the steeds of roses and myrtles shaded us

باكَرْتُها قَبْلَ إِسْفَارِ الضُّحَى بِيَدِي

باكَرْتُها قَبْلَ إِسْفَارِ الضُّحَى بِيَدِي

فما تَبَلّجَ حَتّى نَكّسَتْ رَاسِي

فما تَبَلّجَ حَتّى نَكّسَتْ رَاسِي

I sought her early, before the morning brightened, with my hand;

I plucked them before the dawn’s departure with my hands

And it did not brighten until she had bowed my head.

Yet they did not glisten before bowing their heads