قلب الظريف على القلوب أميرُ

قلب الظريف على القلوب أميرُ

يعنو له التأنيث والتذكيرُ

يعنو له التأنيث والتذكيرُ

The gallant's heart reigns as prince over hearts;

The delicate heart is prince over hearts

the feminine and the masculine bow to him.

To it belong femininity and masculinity

جذلان ما بين الجآذر والمهى

جذلان ما بين الجآذر والمهى

إن غاب نور عنه أقبل نور

إن غاب نور عنه أقبل نور

Joyful among wild-cow calves and oryxes,

Flirtatious between coquetry and passion

if one light leaves him, another light comes.

If light is absent from it, light comes to it

كلٌّ سباه مهفهفٌ أو غادةٌ

كلٌّ سباه مهفهفٌ أو غادةٌ

أما أنا فغريرةٌ وغرير

أما أنا فغريرةٌ وغرير

Each is captivated by a slender youth or a graceful maiden;

All called it fickle or inconstant

as for me, a guileless maiden and a guileless youth captivate me.

As for me, I am a twitterer and chatterer

أفنحمد الشمس المنيرة في الضحى

أفنحمد الشمس المنيرة في الضحى

ونذم بدراً في الظلام ينير

ونذم بدراً في الظلام ينير

Shall we then praise the radiant sun at midmorning,

Shall we praise the bright sun at dawn

and disparage a full moon shining in the darkness?

And blame a moon that gives light in darkness?

ما فضل الأنثى على الذكر امرءٌ

ما فضل الأنثى على الذكر امرءٌ

إلّا وفي عزماته تقصير

إلّا وفي عزماته تقصير

No man has favored the female over the male

No man prefers females over males

without a failing in his resolve.

Except his resolves are weakened

ما الفرق بينهما وتلك رضابها

ما الفرق بينهما وتلك رضابها

راحٌ وهذا ريقه إكسير

راحٌ وهذا ريقه إكسير

What difference is there between them, when her saliva

What is the difference between them? Their beating is the same

is wine, and his saliva is an elixir?

This is vigour and that is elixir

من لا يتمم باجتماعهما الصفا

من لا يتمم باجتماعهما الصفا

فسروره وحبوره مبتور

فسروره وحبوره مبتور

Whoever does not perfect his delight by bringing both together,

Whoever is not perfected by their union

his joy and gladness are cut short.

His joy and perplexity are maimed

جمع الضرائب للمحاسن جامعٌ

جمع الضرائب للمحاسن جامعٌ

تبدو خفاياها به وتنير

تبدو خفاياها به وتنير

Bringing different kinds together gathers their beauties;

One who gathers charms for beauty, a collector

their hidden charms emerge through it and shine.

Through it, secrets become visible and illuminated

إن التفكه سنةٌ محمودةٌ

إن التفكه سنةٌ محمودةٌ

وكذا التنقل مأربٌ مشكور

وكذا التنقل مأربٌ مشكور

Indeed, taking pleasure is a praiseworthy practice,

For fickleness is a praised habit

and likewise, seeking variety is a commendable aim.

As is roving, a commended amusement

وإذا الرياض تنوعت أزهارها

وإذا الرياض تنوعت أزهارها

زادت جمالاً والملاح زهور

زادت جمالاً والملاح زهور

And when the gardens' flowers are varied,

And if gardens have varied flowers

their beauty grows, and the fair ones are flowers.

Their beauty increases, and the observer rejoices

ما حيلتي حل المشيب بلمتي

ما حيلتي حل المشيب بلمتي

وتباعدت عني الحسان الحور

وتباعدت عني الحسان الحور

What can I do? Grayness has settled in my locks,

I have no trick to restore my grey hair

and the lovely, dark-eyed ones have drawn away from me;

And the beautiful houris keep away from me

وتنكرت مني الجآذر والمهى

وتنكرت مني الجآذر والمهى

حتى كأني منكرٌ ونكير

حتى كأني منكرٌ ونكير

and the wild-cow calves and oryxes have grown estranged from me,

The coquetry and passion have become estranged

until I seem like Munkar and Nakir.

As if I am the Questioner and Denier

أيعيرني البحري صبغة شيبه

أيعيرني البحري صبغة شيبه

لأزورهن عسى يفيد الزور

لأزورهن عسى يفيد الزور

Will al-Bahri lend me the dye for his gray hair,

Does the seabird reproach me for its grey locks

so I may visit them—perhaps deception will help?

That I may visit them, perhaps visiting helps