لو لم يناسب ريق فيه الراح

لو لم يناسب ريق فيه الراح

ما كان شاكل خده التفاح

ما كان شاكل خده التفاح

Had his mouth's saliva not resembled wine,

If his saliva were not as sweet as wine,

Apples would not have resembled his cheek.

His cheek would not resemble an apple.

ساق به كملت ليالي الأنس فال

ساق به كملت ليالي الأنس فال

ريق المدام وفرقه المصباح

ريق المدام وفرقه المصباح

A cupbearer who made nights of companionship complete; for

He came at night to complete nights of intimacy,

His saliva is wine, and his hair-parting a lamp.

His saliva is wine, his separation, a lamp.

في وجهه روض الجمال فخده

في وجهه روض الجمال فخده

ورد وذاك الثغر منه اقاح

ورد وذاك الثغر منه اقاح

In his face lies beauty's garden; his cheek

On his face is the garden of beauty, his cheek

Is a rose, and that mouth of his is daisies.

A rose, and his mouth, pomegranate seeds.

تصى لطيب حديثه اسماعنا

تصى لطيب حديثه اسماعنا

وقلوبنا بجماله ترتاح

وقلوبنا بجماله ترتاح

Our ears [listen] to the sweetness of his speech,

Our ears incline towards his sweet talk,

And our hearts find rest in his beauty.

And our hearts find peace in his beauty.

تتنشق النسمات رباه ولا

تتنشق النسمات رباه ولا

عجب اذا هامت به الأرواح

عجب اذا هامت به الأرواح

The breezes inhale the scent of his hills; and no

The breeze plays with him, it is no wonder

Wonder if souls are enraptured by him.

If spirits become enamored with him.

خالفت عذالي عليه لجلهم

خالفت عذالي عليه لجلهم

وعصيت ما قد قاله النصاح

وعصيت ما قد قاله النصاح

I defied my reproachers over him, [for their ignorance],

I opposed my friends because of him,

And disobeyed what the counselors had said.

And disobeyed the advice of counselors.

ما باله بالوصل لم يسمح ولم

ما باله بالوصل لم يسمح ولم

يربح ثوابي والسماح رباح

يربح ثوابي والسماح رباح

What ails him, that he has not granted union, nor

With union, he was not kind, nor

Won my reward, though generosity is gain?

Did he profit me, yet gentleness is most fruitful.

رشأ تبرج بي لواحظه وما

رشأ تبرج بي لواحظه وما

لي عن هواه في الغرام براح

لي عن هواه في الغرام براح

A young gazelle whose sidelong glances [torment] me; and

He was coy with me when I admired him, though

I have no escape from loving him in my passion.

I had no relief from passion in love for him.

كم لي حديث في هواه مسلسل

كم لي حديث في هواه مسلسل

عني رواه مدمعي الفضاح

عني رواه مدمعي الفضاح

How many a tale of love for him I have, linked in a chain,

How much I have to tell about my love for him,

Narrated on my authority by my telltale eye!

My tears recount it while the slanderers watch.

عجبا له في الحب لم يعدل ولم

عجبا له في الحب لم يعدل ولم

تصفح لواحظه وهن صفاح

تصفح لواحظه وهن صفاح

How strange of him! In love he has not acted justly, nor

Wondrous is he in love, he was not just,

Have his glances shown mercy, though they are sword-blades.

His admirers were not spared, though they are chaste.

وجوانحي منه لقد ملئت جوى

وجوانحي منه لقد ملئت جوى

وجوارحي منها بهن جراح

وجوارحي منها بهن جراح

And my breast, because of him, is indeed filled with love's anguish,

My innermost thoughts are filled with passion for him,

And my limbs bear wounds from those glances.

My limbs wounded with intense love for him.

واها لايام الشباب لو انها

واها لايام الشباب لو انها

عادت وكان قرارها الارواح

عادت وكان قرارها الارواح

Ah, for the days of youth! If only they

Oh, the days of youth! If only they

Would return, with souls as their abiding home!

Could return and settle in the soul.

للّه عصر شبيبة قضيّته

للّه عصر شبيبة قضيّته

وزمان لهو كله افراح

وزمان لهو كله افراح

God be praised for the season of youth I spent,

God's will, I spent my youth,

And the time of revelry, all of it joy!

A time of total joy.

حيث الصبا والوصل طوع يدي ولي

حيث الصبا والوصل طوع يدي ولي

حكم عليه ولا عليّ جناح

حكم عليه ولا عليّ جناح

When youth and union obeyed my hand, and I held

When passion and union were at my command, and I

Sway over him, with no blame upon me.

Had influence, no blame attached to me.