ولَيلةٍ عاقَدَت عَيني كَواكِبَها

ولَيلةٍ عاقَدَت عَيني كَواكِبَها

على السهادِ وخَيلُ اللَّهو في خَبَبِ

على السهادِ وخَيلُ اللَّهو في خَبَبِ

And a night when my eye made a pact with its stars

A night whose stars knit my eyes closed

To stay awake, while the steeds of revelry trotted.

On the pillow, and steeds of revelry galloping in the dunes.

بتنا نُسَلسَل في آذانِنا نَغَمٌ

بتنا نُسَلسَل في آذانِنا نَغَمٌ

كالرّوضِ يُسقى بماءِ الظَّلمِ والشَّنَبِ

كالرّوضِ يُسقى بماءِ الظَّلمِ والشَّنَبِ

We spent the night letting melodies ripple through our ears,

We slept chained by a melody ringing in our ears

Like a garden watered with the dew of gleaming teeth and their sweet coolness.

Like a garden watered with the darkness and aloe sap.

ونَرجِسٍ ضَحِكَت سِنُّ الزَّمانِ بهِ

ونَرجِسٍ ضَحِكَت سِنُّ الزَّمانِ بهِ

لا فُضَّ مُبتسِمٌ حَياكَ بالطَّرَب

لا فُضَّ مُبتسِمٌ حَياكَ بالطَّرَب

And narcissus that made Time’s tooth smile—

A narcissus burst out laughing at the old age of time.

May the smiling mouth that greeted you with rapture never be shattered.

No blossom more radiant greeting you with delight,

وبَيننا أَرجٌ مِن نشرِ صافيةٍ

وبَيننا أَرجٌ مِن نشرِ صافيةٍ

أَربَت عَلى المِسك إذ جَلَّت عنِ الذَّهَبِ

أَربَت عَلى المِسك إذ جَلَّت عنِ الذَّهَبِ

And among us, an aroma from the fragrance of clear wine

And between us a meadow of jasmine spreading,

That surpassed musk, as it rose above gold.

Preferring musk when it turns from gold away.