ياO قارِيَreader of العِلمِlearning أَضحىhe began
يا قارِيَ العِلمِ أَضحى
يَقولُhe says وَالصبّwhile the lovesick lover سامِعْlistening
يَقولُ وَالصبّ سامِعْ
O reader of learning! He began
O reader of knowledge, it is morning
to speak, while the lovesick lover listened:
He says while the youth is listening
قَصديmy aim أطالعِI read صفنيdescribe me
قَصدي أطالعِ صفني
فَقلتso I said ياO بَدرfull moon طالِعrising
فَقلت يا بَدر طالِع
“My aim is to read; describe me.”
My intention is to read its pages
So I said, “O rising full moon!”
So I said, O rising moon