كأنّ حناياها جناها مُصفّقٍ

كأنّ حناياها جناها مُصفّقٍ

إِذا الهبتهُ الشّمسُ أرخاهما نَشرا

إِذا الهبتهُ الشّمسُ أرخاهما نَشرا

As though its arches were a flapping bird’s two wings [probable reading],

Her cheeks are like the wings of a dove flapping,

when the sun scorches it, it lets both droop outspread.

When the sun shines on them, she spreads them like banners.

كأنَّ سواريها شكت فترة الضنى

كأنَّ سواريها شكت فترة الضنى

فباتَت هُضيماتِ الحشا نُحلاً صُفرا

فباتَت هُضيماتِ الحشا نُحلاً صُفرا

As though its pillars complained of the weakness of wasting sickness,

Her bracelets seem to complain of lean times,

so they spent the night slender-waisted, gaunt, and yellow.

So they spent the night as the abandoned tents of nomads, yellow.

كأنّ الذي زانَ البياض نحورَها

كأنّ الذي زانَ البياض نحورَها

يُعذَّبها هجراً ويقطعها كبرا

يُعذَّبها هجراً ويقطعها كبرا

As though he who adorned their bosoms with whiteness

It's as if he who adorned her white neck with jewels

torments them with desertion and shuns them out of pride.

Tortures her with abandonment and cuts her with pride.

كأنّ النخيلَ الباسقاتِ إلى العُلا

كأنّ النخيلَ الباسقاتِ إلى العُلا

عذارى حجال رجّلت لمماً شُقرا

عذارى حجال رجّلت لمماً شُقرا

As though the palm trees, towering toward the heights,

It's as if the tall palm trees reaching to the sky

were maidens in bridal chambers who had combed their golden locks.

Are shy virgins with plaited hair the color of gold.

كأنّ غصونَ الآس والريح بينها

كأنّ غصونَ الآس والريح بينها

متونُ نَشاوى كُلّما اضطربت سُكرا

متونُ نَشاوى كُلّما اضطربت سُكرا

As though the myrtle boughs, with the wind among them,

It's as if the myrtle branches and the wind between them

were drunkards’ backs whenever they swayed in intoxication.

Are the bodies of gazelles, drunk each time they stir.

حديقةُ نفسٍ تملأ النفسَ بهجةً

حديقةُ نفسٍ تملأ النفسَ بهجةً

وتُثني عيونُ الناظرين بها حشري

وتُثني عيونُ الناظرين بها حشري

A garden of the soul, filling the soul with delight,

A garden that fills the soul with joy,

and turning back the eyes of those gazing at it [final word unclear].

And makes the eyes of onlookers squint with delight.

كأنّ جنى الجلّنار ووردَها

كأنّ جنى الجلّنار ووردَها

عشيقانِ لما استجمعها أظهرا خَفرا

عشيقانِ لما استجمعها أظهرا خَفرا

As though the pomegranate blossoms and its roses

It's as if the produce of the pomegranate tree and its flowers

were two lovers who, when brought together, showed their bashfulness.

Are lovers displaying their modesty when brought together.

كأنّ جنى سوسانها في سنا الضحى

كأنّ جنى سوسانها في سنا الضحى

كؤوس من البلّور قد حُشيت تبرا

كؤوس من البلّور قد حُشيت تبرا

As though its lily blooms in the brightness of morning

It's as if the lilies at dawn

were crystal goblets filled with gold dust.

Are crystal cups filled with silver.

كأنّ عيونَ النرجس الغضّ بالنّدى

كأنّ عيونَ النرجس الغضّ بالنّدى

عيونٌ تداري الدَّمعَ خيفة أن يُدري

عيونٌ تداري الدَّمعَ خيفة أن يُدري

As though the eyes of the narcissus, fresh with dew,

It's as if the dewy eyes of the narcissus

were eyes concealing tears for fear of disclosure.

Are eyes that shy away from shedding a tear lest it shows.

كأنّ جنى الخيري في غبش الدُجى

كأنّ جنى الخيري في غبش الدُجى

نسيمُ حبيبٍ زار عاشقَهُ سرّا

نسيمُ حبيبٍ زار عاشقَهُ سرّا

As though the wallflower blooms in the dimness of night

It's as if the yield of the cucumber plant in the gloom of night

were the breeze of a beloved who visited his lover in secret.

Is a gentle breeze visiting its lover secretly.

كأنّ ينابيعَ المياهِ مراجلٌ

كأنّ ينابيعَ المياهِ مراجلٌ

تفورُ وقد أذكت لهنّ الحصى جمرا

تفورُ وقد أذكت لهنّ الحصى جمرا

As though the springs of water were cauldrons,

It's as if the water springs are heated cauldrons

bubbling, with pebbles kindled into embers for them.

Boiling as the pebbles kindled embers beneath them.