كأنما الخال بين الحاجبين فتىً

كأنما الخال بين الحاجبين فتىً

يستحسنُ الخطَّ مفتونٌ بنونينِ

يستحسنُ الخطَّ مفتونٌ بنونينِ

As though the mole between the two eyebrows were a young man,

As if the mole between the eyebrows were a youth

Who admires calligraphy, captivated by two nūn letters;

Who finds the writing beautiful, infatuated with two N's

أو فارس من ملوك الزنج مقتدرٌ

أو فارس من ملوك الزنج مقتدرٌ

يرمي بقوسين أو يدمي بسيفينِ

يرمي بقوسين أو يدمي بسيفينِ

Or a mighty horseman from among the kings of the Zanj,

Or a powerful king of the Zinj rulers

Shooting with two bows or drawing blood with two swords;

Who shoots with two bows or makes bloody with two swords

أو طائرٌ جارحٌ يهوي على شركٍ

أو طائرٌ جارحٌ يهوي على شركٍ

يهواه كل مشوق طامح العين

يهواه كل مشوق طامح العين

Or a bird of prey swooping down upon a snare,

Or a bird of prey swooping down on its prey

Which every yearning lover with an uplifted gaze adores.

Which every admiring and ambitious one desires

رآه يسحب قلبي بالهوى فهوى

رآه يسحب قلبي بالهوى فهوى

ليخطف القلب مني بالجناحين

ليخطف القلب مني بالجناحين

It saw it drawing my heart with passion, so it swooped down

He saw him pulling my heart with passion, so he swooped down

To snatch the heart from me with its two wings.

To snatch the heart from me with his wings