قالوا عَلِقْتَ بهِ كبيراً سِنُّهُ

قالوا عَلِقْتَ بهِ كبيراً سِنُّهُ

بادي العِذارِ وإنَّ ذا لنكيرُ

بادي العِذارِ وإنَّ ذا لنكيرُ

They said, “You have fallen for him, though he is advanced in years,

They said you are infatuated with one advanced in years

his cheek-beard showing—and this is indeed objectionable!”

An obvious excuse, yet that is an absurdity

فأجَبْتُهمْ والقَلْبُ رَهْنُ بَلابلٍ

فأجَبْتُهمْ والقَلْبُ رَهْنُ بَلابلٍ

ومطيُّ صَدري لوْعَةٌ وزَفيرُ

ومطيُّ صَدري لوْعَةٌ وزَفيرُ

So I answered them, my heart held hostage to anguish,

I answered them while my heart is in the thrall of nightingales

and my breast’s steeds were burning grief and sighs:

And my breast's steed is neighing and whinnying

إنَّ القُلوبَ على المِلاحِ قوالبٌ

إنَّ القُلوبَ على المِلاحِ قوالبٌ

ما لَمْ يَضِقْ عنهُ الصّغير صغيرُ

ما لَمْ يَضِقْ عنهُ الصّغير صغيرُ

“Indeed, hearts are molds for the beautiful;

Indeed hearts are molds for affection

whatever the small one can hold is small.”

Unless the small should recoil from small