قَبَّلتُI kissed غَداةَon the morning وَدَّعتنيshe bade me farewell فاهاher mouth
قَبَّلتُ غَداةَ وَدَّعتني فاها
أَستَرشِفُI sip نخبةًa choice draught وَماand how أَشهاهاdelectable it was
أَستَرشِفُ نخبةً وَما أَشهاها
I kissed her mouth the morning she bade me farewell.
I kissed her mouth the morning she bade me farewell.
I slowly sip a toast to you—how delicious it is!
Sipping a choice draught—how delectable it was!
طابَتit was sweet وَبِطعمand with the taste هَجرِهاher parting قَدindeed مُزِجَتit was mingled
طابَت وَبِطعم هَجرِها قَد مُزِجَت
ماhow كانَit was أَمرَّهاbitter it was وَماand how أَحلاهاsweet it was
ما كانَ أَمرَّها وَما أَحلاها
It was sweet, and had been mingled with the taste of her leaving.
It was sweet, yet mingled with the taste of her parting.
How bitter it was—and how sweet!
How bitter it was, and how sweet!
