أَتَنسيْن يا لَمياءُ شملكِ جامعاً

أَتَنسيْن يا لَمياءُ شملكِ جامعاً

وَإِذْ أَنا في صبغ الدُّجى منك أقربُ

وَإِذْ أَنا في صبغ الدُّجى منك أقربُ

Do you forget, O Lamya, when your company was gathered together,

Do you forget, O radiant beauty, our union complete,

and when, in the dye of darkness, I was nearer to you,

When I draw near to you in the darkness of night?

وَقد لفّنا ضيقُ العناقِ وَبيننا

وَقد لفّنا ضيقُ العناقِ وَبيننا

عِتابٌ كعرفِ المسكِ أو هو أطيبُ

عِتابٌ كعرفِ المسكِ أو هو أطيبُ

and a tight embrace had enfolded us, while between us

Though vexed were we, enwrapped in affection’s embrace—

was reproach like musk's fragrance—or sweeter still;

Reproaches like musk’s fragrance, or sweeter than musk.

وَإِذ علّنِي مِن ريقهِ ثم علّنِي

وَإِذ علّنِي مِن ريقهِ ثم علّنِي

عَلى ظمإٍ مُستعذَبُ الرّيق أشنبُ

عَلى ظمإٍ مُستعذَبُ الرّيق أشنبُ

and when he gave me drink of his saliva, then gave me drink again,

When you let me sip from your lips, then made me taste

in my thirst—one with cool, white teeth and sweet saliva—

The drought-quenching drafts of your mouth, pure and sweet,

كَأنّ عليهِ آخرَ اللّيلِ قهوةً

كَأنّ عليهِ آخرَ اللّيلِ قهوةً

مُعتّقةً ناجودُها يَتصوّبُ

مُعتّقةً ناجودُها يَتصوّبُ

as though upon it, at night's end, there were wine,

As though it were coffee matured through the night

aged, its flagon tipping downward?

That we sip together at dawn, in small sips, discreet.

أُحبّكِ يا لَمياءُ مِن غَيرِ رِيبةٍ

أُحبّكِ يا لَمياءُ مِن غَيرِ رِيبةٍ

وَلا خَيرَ فيما جاءَهُ المتريِّبُ

وَلا خَيرَ فيما جاءَهُ المتريِّبُ

I love you, O Lamya, without doubt,

O radiant beauty, my love for you has no doubt,

and there is no good in what the doubter undertakes.

No good in a love mixed with even a hint of mistrust.

وَيُطرِبُني إِنْ عنَّ ذكرُك مرّةً

وَيُطرِبُني إِنْ عنَّ ذكرُك مرّةً

وَلَستُ لِشيءٍ غير ذكراك أطربُ

وَلَستُ لِشيءٍ غير ذكراك أطربُ

And I thrill if the thought of you arises even once,

Your memory stirs me, enraptures me throughout,

and nothing but remembrance of you makes me thrill.

For nothing but thoughts of you ever my heart thus.

وَفي المَعشَرِ الغادينَ بَدرُ دُجُنّةٍ

وَفي المَعشَرِ الغادينَ بَدرُ دُجُنّةٍ

عَلوقٌ بِأَلبابِ الرّجالِ مُحبّبُ

عَلوقٌ بِأَلبابِ الرّجالِ مُحبّبُ

And among the company departing at dawn is a full moon of darkness,

Among the gatherings’ throng moves a fawn-like young moon,

clinging to men's minds, beloved.

Ensnaring men’s hearts with her beauty—my love, my delight!

يَدِلُّ فَلا تَأبى القلوبُ دلاله

يَدِلُّ فَلا تَأبى القلوبُ دلاله

ويُلقِي بأسبابِ الرِّضا حين يغَضَبُ

ويُلقِي بأسبابِ الرِّضا حين يغَضَبُ

He acts coy, and hearts do not reject his coyness,

She beckons, and hearts cannot but yield to her tune,

and casts aside the bonds of contentment when he grows angry.

Dispensing her favors and calming her lover’s despite.