بروحيwith my soul as ransom ذاتa woman possessing حسنbeauty أسكرتنيshe intoxicated me
بروحي ذات حسن أسكرتني
بأحداقwith eyes عنin place of الأقداحthe winecups تغنيthey suffice
بأحداق عن الأقداح تغني
My soul be ransom for a beauty who intoxicated me
With my soul, her beauty intoxicates me
With eyes that leave no need for winecups.
With her eyes singing over the cups
تمايلswayed قدهاher figure وافترَّand parted in a smile فوهاher mouth
تمايل قدها وافترَّ فوها
فخلتso I thought البدرthe full moon يبسمwas smiling فوقabove غصنa branch
فخلت البدر يبسم فوق غصن
Her figure swayed, and her mouth parted in a smile,
Swaying her stature and parting her lips
So I thought the full moon was smiling above a branch.
Leaving the full moon smiling above a branch
إذاwhen قالsays ابنهاher son ياO تمرَحِنّاtamar-hinna (a flowering plant)
إذا قال ابنها يا تمرَحِنّا
أقولI say لَحَنتَyou misspoke قلsay ياO تمرُdates حِنِّيhave pity (feminine command)
أقول لَحَنتَ قل يا تمرُ حِنِّي
When her son says, “O tamar-hinna!”
When her son says “oh you who makes us dance!”
I say, “You misspoke; say, ‘O dates, have pity!’”
I say “you have teased me, say oh you who makes me dance!”
وحينand when يقولhe says عنديI have الوردthe roses جوريjuri (Damask)
وحين يقول عندي الورد جوري
أحاذرI fear جورهاher cruelty وأقولand I say اَجرنيprotect me
أحاذر جورها وأقول اَجرني
And when he says, “I have juri (Damask) roses,”
And when he says “I have roses, do me wrong”
I fear her cruelty and say, “Protect me!”
I beware her wrongdoing and say “reward me”