كَأَنَّما مَضمَضَت مِن ماءِ مَوهِبَةٍ

كَأَنَّما مَضمَضَت مِن ماءِ مَوهِبَةٍ

عَلى شَبابيِّ نَخلٍ دونَهُ المَلَقُ

عَلى شَبابيِّ نَخلٍ دونَهُ المَلَقُ

As though she had rinsed her mouth with Mawhibah’s water,

As though you rinsed your mouth with gifted water

above tall palm trees, with smooth stones below it,

On my youthful palm trees, clad below in raiment

إِذا الكَرَى غَيَّر الأَفواهَ وَاِنقَلَبَت

إِذا الكَرَى غَيَّر الأَفواهَ وَاِنقَلَبَت

عَن غَيرِ ما عَهِدَت في نَومِها الريَقُ

عَن غَيرِ ما عَهِدَت في نَومِها الريَقُ

when slumber altered mouths, and saliva changed

When fate made mouths change and turn away

in her sleep to something unlike what she had known.

From what they were used to in their spittle's slumber