مَن لي بطيبِ الوصلِ من غادة

مَن لي بطيبِ الوصلِ من غادة

وهي كَعابٌ عندها الشيبُ عابْ

وهي كَعابٌ عندها الشيبُ عابْ

Who will bring me sweet union with a graceful maiden,

Who will bring me the joy of union with one I love,

A budding-breasted girl, in whose eyes gray hair is a flaw?

Though now old age makes her charm decay?

تُسَوّدُ الحنّاءَ في كَفّهَا

تُسَوّدُ الحنّاءَ في كَفّهَا

عِشْقاً لمسودّ عِذارِ الشّباب

عِشْقاً لمسودّ عِذارِ الشّباب

She blackens the henna on her palm,

With henna she blacks her hands for love

For love of youth’s dark cheek-down.

Of a youth whose grace has passed away.

كفٌّ من الكافور هذي التي

كفٌّ من الكافور هذي التي

أرى من المسك عليها خضاب

أرى من المسك عليها خضاب

This is a palm of camphor, upon which

Hand white as camphor this that I view

I see a dye of musk.

Dyed as with essence of musk it were.