حَمَلتْ بِراحتِها شَبيهةَ خدّها

حَمَلتْ بِراحتِها شَبيهةَ خدّها

تُفّاحَةً لَبِسَت حُلَى الصّهْبَاء

تُفّاحَةً لَبِسَت حُلَى الصّهْبَاء

She held in her palm a likeness of her cheek—

In her palm like her rosy cheek

an apple clothed in wine’s adornments.

She held an apple dressed in saffron robes

ورَمَتْ إلى جِهَتي بها بَلْ أوْمَأت

ورَمَتْ إلى جِهَتي بها بَلْ أوْمَأت

وجلت يَداً مَخْضوبَة بِدمائي

وجلت يَداً مَخْضوبَة بِدمائي

And she tossed it toward me—or rather, gestured—

And tossed it my way, no rather beckoned

and revealed a hand dyed with my blood.

Shrinking back a hand bloodied by my wounds

فَقَنِعْتُ مِنها بالزّهيدِ تعلُّلاً

فَقَنِعْتُ مِنها بالزّهيدِ تعلُّلاً

والحُبُّ يُقْنَع فِيه بِالإيماء

والحُبُّ يُقْنَع فِيه بِالإيماء

So I contented myself with little from her, seeking solace;

So with meager gestures I feigned contentment

and in love one is content with a gesture.

Though in love one finds gestures sufficient