لَهْفِيmy longing علىfor الظًّبيْthe gazelle الّذِيwho
لَهْفِي على الظًّبيْ الّذِي
تُدْمِيmake bleed سوالِفَهthe sides of his neck القُبَلْkisses
تُدْمِي سوالِفَه القُبَلْ
How I long for the gazelle whose
My friend, a kiss speaks with perfect eloquence
neck is made to bleed by kisses!
تَحْكيresembles عذوبةُthe sweetness of رِيقهِhis saliva
تَحْكي عذوبةُ رِيقهِ
خَمْراًwine تُعَلُّis diluted بماءِwith water of طَلّdew
خَمْراً تُعَلُّ بماءِ طَلّ
The sweetness of his saliva resembles
wine diluted with dew-water.
حَلَفَswore الهوَىlove لاnot يَنْتهِيcease
حَلَفَ الهوَى لا يَنْتهِي
حَتَّىuntil يُصَيِّرنِيit makes me مَثَلْa byword
حَتَّى يُصَيِّرنِي مَثَلْ
Love has sworn it will not cease
until it makes me a byword.
Partial English translation: 1 of 6 Arabic lines translated.