ظَبيٌ لِقَتلي سَلَّ صارِمَ لَحظِهِ

ظَبيٌ لِقَتلي سَلَّ صارِمَ لَحظِهِ

فَصرعتُ مِنهُ وَإِنّني لَقتيلُ

فَصرعتُ مِنهُ وَإِنّني لَقتيلُ

A gazelle drew the sharp sword of his glance to slay me.

A gazelle with lethal glances bent on killing me

So I was felled by him, and indeed I am slain.

I fell by her hand though I'm not yet dead

فَبَكى فَشِمت الدّمعَ بَينَ جُفونِهِ

فَبَكى فَشِمت الدّمعَ بَينَ جُفونِهِ

ماءَ الحَياةِ مِنَ السّيوفِ يَسيلُ

ماءَ الحَياةِ مِنَ السّيوفِ يَسيلُ

Then he wept, and I beheld the tears between his eyelids—

She wept and I felt her teardrops midst her lids

The water of life flowing from swords.

The water of life pouring from the swords