خليليَّmy two friends هلhave ...? أعطيتماyou two given اللحظَthe gaze حقهُits due
خليليَّ هل أعطيتما اللحظَ حقهُ
منof البركةِthe pool الحسناءِlovely شكلاًin form ومنظراand in appearance
من البركةِ الحسناءِ شكلاً ومنظرا
My two friends, have you given your gaze its due
My beloved, have we given the moment its due
In the lovely pool's form and appearance?
Of fine blessing, in shape and sight?
إذاwhen باشرتْtouches أولىthe first stirrings of النسيمthe breeze حسبتهاI take it for
إذا باشرتْ أولى النسيم حسبتها
منof الرنجِrang cloth المفروكِrubbed ثوباًa robe منشراspread out
من الرنجِ المفروكِ ثوباً منشرا
When the first breeze touches it, I take it for
When the first breeze makes to stir, you'd think it
A robe of rubbed rang cloth, spread out.
A garment of spun delight unfurled.
كأنَّas though شباكاًnets ألقيتْhad been cast فيinto متونهاits surfaces
كأنَّ شباكاً ألقيتْ في متونها
فأبقتْand so left مثالاًa pattern فوقهاupon it قدalready تسطراwas traced in lines
فأبقتْ مثالاً فوقها قد تسطرا
As though nets had been cast across its surface
As though nets were cast on her depths
And left upon it a pattern traced in lines.
Leaving an image traced above, uncurled,
ويتركهاand leaves it مرُّthe passage of القبولthe east wind كماjust as انثنتcurved
ويتركها مرُّ القبول كما انثنت
معاطفُthe folds ثوبيthe two robes of راقصٍa dancer قدalready تكسراswayed and bent
معاطفُ ثوبي راقصٍ قد تكسرا
And the east wind's passage leaves it like the curving
And the tides of acceptance leave her be
Folds of a dancer's two robes as he sways.
Like the folding hem of a dancing gown uncurled.