خَطَّ الجَمالُ عَلى مِياهِ خُدودِهِ

خَطَّ الجَمالُ عَلى مِياهِ خُدودِهِ

لامَ العِذارِ وَقال عندكَ وَاِثبتِ

لامَ العِذارِ وَقال عندكَ وَاِثبتِ

Beauty inscribed upon the waters of his cheeks

The camels traced upon the water of his cheeks

The lām of cheek-down, and said, “Stay there and hold firm!”

The marks of blame, and said: Stay here and affirm

إِذ كلّ خَطٍّ فوقَ ماءٍ لَم يَكُن

إِذ كلّ خَطٍّ فوقَ ماءٍ لَم يَكُن

إِلّا العِذارُ عَلى مِياهِ الوَجنَةِ

إِلّا العِذارُ عَلى مِياهِ الوَجنَةِ

For no written line has ever existed upon water,

That every line above the water, it has not been

Except the cheek-down upon the waters of the cheek.

Except for the blame upon the waters of the cheeks