صافَحتُI clasped بَنانهاher fingertips بِكَفّيwith the two palms of عاطِone reaching out
صافَحتُ بَنانها بِكَفّي عاطِ
ماnot جاوزَwent beyond ذاكَthat فيin الهَوىlove إِفراطيmy excess
ما جاوزَ ذاكَ في الهَوى إِفراطي
I clasped her fingertips with outstretched palms.
I shook her fingers in my palms gently
My excess in love went no further than that.
That did not exceed proper affection
أَطرافُthe outer reaches of مَمالكkingdoms of الجَمالbeauty اِفتُتِحَتhave been conquered
أَطرافُ مَمالك الجَمال اِفتُتِحَت
مَنwho ليfor me بِتَدَرُّجيwith my gradual advance إِلىto الأَوساطِthe centers
مَن لي بِتَدَرُّجي إِلى الأَوساطِ
The outer reaches of beauty’s kingdoms have been conquered.
The fringes of the land of beauty were opened
Who will help me advance step by step to their centers?
Who can help me gradually reach the middle