ليI have حبٌّa beloved منfrom عينهhis eye ضربstrikes النفوسsouls شاماتcheckmate
لي حبٌّ من عينه ضرب النفوس شامات
لهhe has قدٌّa figure معwith خَدٍّa cheek فيin ذالينٌthis one: suppleness وذاand this one شاماتُbeauty spots
له قدٌّ مع خَدٍّ في ذالينٌ وذا شاماتُ
I have a beloved whose eye checkmates souls.
His love struck souls like flames in the evening
He has a figure and a cheek: the one is supple, the other bears beauty spots.
His stature with cheeks shone in shadows and dusk
إنif قلتI say صِلنيbe with me أكُنI shall be لكfor you عوناًa helper علىagainst الشُّمّاتthe gloaters
إن قلت صِلني أكُن لك عوناً على الشُّمّات
يَقُلhe says ماnot أصِلI unite فَمَنso whoever شاwishes عاشlives ومَنand whoever شاwishes ماتdies
يَقُل ما أصِل فَمَن شا عاش ومَن شا مات
If I say, 'Be with me; I will help you against the gloaters,'
Say I yearn for you, I'll help dispel your sorrows
He says, 'I will not; whoever wishes may live, and whoever wishes may die.'
He says, I won't unite, so be it who lives or dies