حمى وَرد الرضاب العَذب كَي لا

حمى وَرد الرضاب العَذب كَي لا

يَفوز بِلَثم ميم الثَغر صادي

يَفوز بِلَثم ميم الثَغر صادي

He guarded the rose of sweet saliva, lest

The sweet wild rose fever, lest

a thirsty one win a kiss of the mouth’s mīm;

My lips attain the mouth's Mim that flows.

وَسيَّج وَرد وَجنَتِهِ بِآسٍ

وَسيَّج وَرد وَجنَتِهِ بِآسٍ

مَخافة أَن تمدّ لَهُ الأَيادي

مَخافة أَن تمدّ لَهُ الأَيادي

and fenced the rose of his cheek with myrtle,

And fenced the rose and its gardens with spears,

for fear that hands might reach for it.

Fearing hands would reach out to pluck.