ناوَلته وَردة فَاِحمر مِن خَجل

ناوَلته وَردة فَاِحمر مِن خَجل

وَلاحَ لُؤلؤ ذاكَ المَنظر النَضرِ

وَلاحَ لُؤلؤ ذاكَ المَنظر النَضرِ

I handed him a rose, and he blushed with shyness.

I presented her with a rose, she blushed with shyness

And the pearls of that radiant countenance gleamed.

Her radiant visage shone like pearls

وَقام يَخطر عجباً في مَحاسنه

وَقام يَخطر عجباً في مَحاسنه

وَقال عِندي ما يغني عَن الزَهرِ

وَقال عِندي ما يغني عَن الزَهرِ

And he rose, strutting, proud of his charms,

He stood amazed at her beauty

And said, "I have what spares me the need for flowers:

And said "I have no need for flowers

الوَرد خدّي وَعَيني نَرجس وَعَلى

الوَرد خدّي وَعَيني نَرجس وَعَلى

قَضيب قدّيَ أَنواع مِن الثَمَرِ

قَضيب قدّيَ أَنواع مِن الثَمَرِ

My cheek is a rose, my eye a narcissus, and on

My cheeks are roses, my eyes narcissus

The bough of my frame are fruits of many kinds.

On my slender form, every fruit grows

فَما اِحتِياجي إِلى زَهر الرِياض وَفي

فَما اِحتِياجي إِلى زَهر الرِياض وَفي

خَدّي عذار كَريحان عَلى نَهرِ

خَدّي عذار كَريحان عَلى نَهرِ

So what need have I of garden flowers, when on

Why would I need garden blossoms when

My cheek is down like basil beside a river?"

My cheeks hold the fragrance of basil on a river"