وَلَستُ أُحِبُّ الوردَ إِلّا لأنَّهُ

وَلَستُ أُحِبُّ الوردَ إِلّا لأنَّهُ

يُشابِهُ خدَّ الحِبِّ والحقُّ ما أُبدي

يُشابِهُ خدَّ الحِبِّ والحقُّ ما أُبدي

And I love the rose only because it

I love the rose only because it

resembles the beloved’s cheek—and what I declare is true.

Resembles the cheek of the beloved, and in truth I reveal

فَخطِّئْ حِجىً بِالوردِ شَبَّه خَدَّهُ

فَخطِّئْ حِجىً بِالوردِ شَبَّه خَدَّهُ

وصَوِّبْ حِجىً مَنْ شَبّه الوردَ بالخدِّ

وصَوِّبْ حِجىً مَنْ شَبّه الوردَ بالخدِّ

So deem mistaken the judgment that likened his cheek to the rose,

Blame the one who likens a cheek to the rose

And deem correct the judgment of whoever likened the rose to the cheek.

And approve the one who likens the rose to a cheek