لقدindeed لقيتI met صباحاًone morning
لقد لقيت صباحاً
بيضاًfair-skinned ones حساناًbeautiful ones صباحاradiant-faced ones
بيضاً حساناً صباحا
Indeed, one morning I met
I have translated the Arabic poem into English, preserving the poetic form:
fair-skinned beauties, radiant of face—
I met a bright, beautiful morning,
منamong كلّevery ظبيgazelle غريرguileless
من كلّ ظبي غرير
قدalready أخجلput to shame المصباحاthe lamp
قد أخجل المصباحا
many a guileless gazelle
A morning from every singing warbler,
that had put the lamp to shame,
That put the lamp to shame.
وكلand every هيفاءslender-waisted maiden رودdelicate
وكل هيفاء رود
تسبيtakes captive العقولthe minds الصحاحاsound
تسبي العقول الصحاحا
and many a slender-waisted, delicate maiden
And every rosy cheek that captivates sane minds,
who takes sound minds captive,
And every alluring glance like kohl,
وكلand every أحوىdark-hued one كحيلٍkohl-dark-eyed
وكل أحوى كحيلٍ
ملأfilled الفؤادthe heart جراحاwounds
ملأ الفؤاد جراحا
and many a dusky beauty with kohl-dark eyes
That filled the heart with wounds,
who filled the heart with wounds.
As if it were mischievous games
كأنماas though ألمىdark-lipped one لعوبplayful
كأنما ألمى لعوب
تسقيكgives you drink بالثغرthrough the lips راحاwine
تسقيك بالثغر راحا
As though a playful, dark-lipped beauty
Quenching you with sips of delight.
were giving you wine to drink from her lips.
If your mind becomes infatuated with it,
إنif هامbecame lost in love عقلكyour mind فيهاin her
إن هام عقلك فيها
فلاthen no عليكupon you جناحاblame
فلا عليك جناحا
If your mind is lost in her,
Then no blame upon you.
then no blame rests upon you.
Partial English translation: 11 of 12 Arabic lines translated.