مَهماwhenever رشقتshot arrows at عينيَmy eye ذاكَthat الخَدّاcheek
مَهما رشقت عينيَ ذاكَ الخَدّا
ظاهَرتُI layered منfrom الصُدغthe temple-lock لِعَينيfor my eye سَرداchain mail
ظاهَرتُ من الصُدغ لِعَيني سَردا
Whenever my eye shot arrows at that cheek,
I layered chain mail of temple-hair for my eye.
ياO دَولَةَgood fortune of أَطفالِchildren of زُنوجٍBlack Africans فَرَشواthey spread out
يا دَولَةَ أَطفالِ زُنوجٍ فَرَشوا
مِنfrom ناعِمِthe softness of خَدّيكَyour two cheeks برغميagainst my will وَرداroses
مِن ناعِمِ خَدّيكَ برغمي وَردا
How fortunate the little Black children, who have made
a bed of roses from your soft cheeks, against my will!