نَفَرَتْ جفالاً خِيفةً أن تَتَطيّرا

نَفَرَتْ جفالاً خِيفةً أن تَتَطيّرا

كالظبي لاحظَ قانصاً فَتَذَعّرا

كالظبي لاحظَ قانصاً فَتَذَعّرا

She fled in panic, fearing an ill omen,

She fled in fear, lest we be seen,

Like a gazelle that noticed a hunter and took fright.

Like a gazelle who spies a hunter and startles.

صارت علاقتها لظى في مهجتي

صارت علاقتها لظى في مهجتي

ومحاجري سكبت عقيقاً أحمراً

ومحاجري سكبت عقيقاً أحمراً

Love for her became a blaze within my heart's core,

Her connection became distress in my gut,

And my eye sockets poured forth crimson agate.

And my eyelids shed red pearls.

راودتُها عن حاجتي فتعصفرتْ

راودتُها عن حاجتي فتعصفرتْ

وجناتُها خَجَلاً وقالت لن ترى

وجناتُها خَجَلاً وقالت لن ترى

I coaxed her to grant my desire; then safflower-red grew

I importuned her for my need and she frowned,

Her cheeks with shyness, and she said, 'You will not see.'

Her cheeks blushing as she said “You shall not see!”

أصبحت ملهوفَ الحشا متعذباً

أصبحت ملهوفَ الحشا متعذباً

لا ميتاً حتى أُلَفَّ وأقبَرا

لا ميتاً حتى أُلَفَّ وأقبَرا

I have become anguished at heart, tormented,

I became distraught with yearning, tormented,

Yet not dead, that I might be shrouded and buried.

Neither dead, that I be buried and forgot.