مَنwho لِيfor me بهwith him حُلوُsweet الحَديثِthe speech رَزِينُهُmeasured in it
مَن لِي به حُلوُ الحَديثِ رَزِينُهُ
ألفاظُهُhis words كَاللُّولُؤِlike pearls المَكنُونِkept hidden
ألفاظُهُ كَاللُّولُؤِ المَكنُونِ
Who can bring him to me, sweet and measured in speech?
Who has the sweetest conversation for me, so refined are his words
His words are like pearls kept hidden.
Like hidden pearls, shining bright
يَاO قَامةًa figure تَختالُsways proudly فِيin البيضَاءِal-Bayda (the White) مَاwhat is
يَا قَامةً تَختالُ فِي البيضَاءِ مَا
بينَbetween الجآذِرِthe wild-ox calves والظِّبَاءِand the gazelles العينِwide-eyed
بينَ الجآذِرِ والظِّبَاءِ العينِ
O figure, swaying proudly in al-Bayda,
O slender figure walking proudly in white robes
among the wild-ox calves and wide-eyed gazelles!
Between the roots and the watchful eyes of the bushes
هَلwill there be عَطفةٌan affectionate inclination نحويtoward me إذاwhen مَرَّpasses الصَّبَاthe east wind
هَل عَطفةٌ نحوي إذا مَرَّ الصَّبَا
لاَdo not تَنسَهَاforget it مِنamong عَادَةٍa habit لِغُصُونِof branches
لاَ تَنسَهَا مِن عَادَةٍ لِغُصُونِ
Will you incline toward me when the east wind passes?
Will you turn my way, when the morning breeze blows by
Do not forget it: it is the habit of branches.
As is the custom of bending boughs
واهنَأand rejoice بِعيدٍin a festival قدalready فَضَحتَyou have put to shame بَهَاءَهُits splendor
واهنَأ بِعيدٍ قد فَضَحتَ بَهَاءَهُ
وسَترتَand you have veiled غُرَّتَهُits bright brow بِنُورِwith the light of جَبينِa forehead
وسَترتَ غُرَّتَهُ بِنُورِ جَبينِ
And rejoice in a festival whose splendor you have put to shame,
And enjoy a feast whose brilliance you have revealed
and whose bright brow you have veiled with your forehead’s light.
While modesty veils your radiant brow