ودعتهI bade him farewell والليلwhile the night يخفرناguards us
ودعته والليل يخفرنا
والبدرand the full moon يرمقيgazes at me (apparently intended) ويرمقهand gazes at him
والبدر يرمقي ويرمقه
I bade him farewell while night sheltered us.
And the full moon gazes at me and at him.
والماءand the water يرجريruns (apparently intended) فيin تدفقهits rushing flow
والماء يرجري في تدفقه
ويكادand almost ماءwater العينthe eye يسبقهoutpaces it
ويكاد ماء العين يسبقه
And the water runs in its rushing flow.
And the eye’s tears almost outpace it.
والدلand coy charm ينهاهrestrains it تمنعهhis reserve
والدل ينهاه تمنعه
والحبand love يأمرهcommands it ترفقهhis tenderness
والحب يأمره ترفقه
And his reserve restrains his coy charm.
And his tenderness urges on his love.
ولربand many a خدٍّcheek بتI spent the night ألثمهkissing it
ولرب خدٍّ بت ألثمه
والدمعand tears يطفئextinguishes ماwhat أحرقهset it aflame
والدمع يطفئ ما أحرقه
And many a cheek have I spent the night kissing.
And tears quench what it set aflame.
والوردand the rose أقطفهI pluck it لوجنتهfor his cheek
والورد أقطفه لوجنته
والشوكand the thorns فيin قلبيmy heart مقوفهits [stem unclear as written]
والشوك في قلبي مقوفه
And I pluck the rose for his cheek.
And the thorns in my heart—[final word unclear].
لماwhen رأيتI saw والليلwhile the night زايلناdeparted from us
لما رأيت والليل زايلنا
وأذاعand revealed سرthe secret الصبحof dawn مشرقهits rising
وأذاع سر الصبح مشرقه
When I looked, as night departed from us,
And dawn’s rising revealed its secret,
طأطأتI bowed my head لاnot أرنوI gaze لرونقهat its splendor
طأطأت لا أرنو لرونقه
فالحسنfor beauty يطغىoverwhelms الصبthe ardent lover رونقهits splendor
فالحسن يطغى الصب رونقه
I bowed my head, not gazing at its splendor,
For beauty’s splendor overwhelms the ardent lover.