أوَّل العهدِ بالَّتي حَمَّلتني

أوَّل العهدِ بالَّتي حَمَّلتني

شططاً في الهوى وأمراً فِرِيّا

شططاً في الهوى وأمراً فِرِيّا

My first encounter with her who burdened me

At the start of our affair, she who burdened me

with excess in love and an extraordinary affair

With passion in love and untamed impulsiveness,

وَضْعُ كفّي في كفّها تتلظَّى

وَضْعُ كفّي في كفّها تتلظَّى

مِن غرامٍ . كمَنْ يُناوِل شَيّا

مِن غرامٍ . كمَنْ يُناوِل شَيّا

was placing my palm in hers, ablaze

The placing of my hands in her hands was like touching

with passion, like someone offering roasted meat.

Fire that ravishes the heart of the enamored.

رجفَت رَجفْةً قرأتُ التشهّي

رجفَت رَجفْةً قرأتُ التشهّي

فوقَها واضحاً . بليغاً . قويّا

فوقَها واضحاً . بليغاً . قويّا

It gave a shudder; I read desire

I shuddered when I embraced her, I grew faint,

upon it—clear, eloquent, strong.

Perusing her face, so bewitching, so shy.

ثم قالت بطرفها بعدَ لأيٍ :

ثم قالت بطرفها بعدَ لأيٍ :

عن طريقٍ سهلٍ وصَلْتَ إليّا!

عن طريقٍ سهلٍ وصَلْتَ إليّا!

Then, after some effort, she said with her glance:

Then said she, demurely, “This moment, sweet sir,

"By an easy path you have reached me!"

Is ordained for our fortune, expressly.”

وهيَ سمراءُ في التقاطيع منها

وهيَ سمراءُ في التقاطيع منها

يجِدُ الحالمونَ شِبعاً ورِيّا

يجِدُ الحالمونَ شِبعاً ورِيّا

And she is dusky; in her features

She was brunette, in the fullness of beauty,

dreamers find fullness and their thirst quenched.

Of all dreams, hers was the keenest desirous.

ينفحُ العَطر جِلدُها ويسيلُ الدِفءُ

ينفحُ العَطر جِلدُها ويسيلُ الدِفءُ

في عِرْقها لذيذاً شهيّا

في عِرْقها لذيذاً شهيّا

Her skin exudes perfume, and warmth flows

Her scent filled me, her warmth ran through me,

through her vein, delicious and enticing.

An exquisite, honeyed pleasure.

لو قرأتَ الخطَّ ! الذي واسَطَ النهدينِ

لو قرأتَ الخطَّ ! الذي واسَطَ النهدينِ

يستهدفُ الطريقَ السويّا!

يستهدفُ الطريقَ السويّا!

Had you read the line running between her breasts,

If you could see the trail her breasts scored

pointing toward the straight path,

Between them on her chest, straight, perfect!

لتَمَشَّيْتَ فوقَه بالتمنّي

لتَمَشَّيْتَ فوقَه بالتمنّي

ووصلت الكنزَ الثمينَ الخفيّا

ووصلت الكنزَ الثمينَ الخفيّا

you would have walked along it in wishful fancy,

You would walk it with zeal and chanting,

and reached the precious, hidden treasure;

A pilgrim to a meant and hidden shrine.

وتصبَّاكَ منتهاهُ تصبّي

وتصبَّاكَ منتهاهُ تصبّي

عالَمٍ آخرٍ تقيّاً نَقيّا

عالَمٍ آخرٍ تقيّاً نَقيّا

and its end would have beguiled you as

At the end its road, you would find release

another world beguiles one devout and pure.

Into another rare, gracious world.