وَكيفَ صَبرُ النَفسِ عَن غادَةٍ

وَكيفَ صَبرُ النَفسِ عَن غادَةٍ

تَظلِمُها إِن قُلتَ طاووسَه

تَظلِمُها إِن قُلتَ طاووسَه

And how can the soul endure without a graceful maiden

How can the soul be patient without Ghada,

whom you wrong if you call her a peahen?

Whom you wrong if you call her a peacock,

وَجُرتَ إِن شَبَّهتَها بانَةً

وَجُرتَ إِن شَبَّهتَها بانَةً

في جَنَّةِ الفِردَوسِ مَغروسَه

في جَنَّةِ الفِردَوسِ مَغروسَه

And you are unjust if you liken her to a bān tree

And sell short if you compare her to a gazelle

planted in the garden of Paradise.

Planted in the garden of Paradise?

وَغَيرُ عَدلٍ إِن عَدَلنا بِها

وَغَيرُ عَدلٍ إِن عَدَلنا بِها

لُؤلُؤةً في البَحرِ مَنفوسَه

لُؤلُؤةً في البَحرِ مَنفوسَه

And it is unfair if we equate her with

And it is not just if we liken her

a precious pearl in the sea.

To a pearl breathed into the sea,

جَلَّت عَنِ الوَصفِ فَما فِكرَةٌ

جَلَّت عَنِ الوَصفِ فَما فِكرَةٌ

تَلحَقُها بِالنَعتِ مَحسوسَه

تَلحَقُها بِالنَعتِ مَحسوسَه

She transcends description; no thought

She transcends description, so no thought

that can be conceived can capture her in words.

Can reach her with tangible praise.