حبي وهو الجنة البهيجة سيان

من كل بهاء به لطرفي زوجان

My beloved and delightful Paradise are alike:

My gaze finds in him a pair of every lovely thing.

الوجنة ورد والياسمين محبط

والنرجس عيناه والنهود كرمان

His cheek is a rose, with jasmine surrounding it;

His eyes are narcissi, and his breasts like pomegranates.

والريق رحيق حلا كصفوة شهد

كم فيه شفاء لقلب من هو ولهان

And his saliva is nectar, sweet as the purest honey.

How much healing it holds for a lovesick heart!

والخال وثغر ومبسم ولثات

در وعقيق وعنبر وكمرجان

His beauty mark, mouth, smile, and gums—

Pearls, carnelian, ambergris, and coral.

أقسمت يمينا به قويم قوام

كالغصن إذا هزه الشمائل من بان

I swore an oath by him, so straight of stature,

Like a ben-tree bough when the north winds stir it.

يا صاح أقلني من الملام فإني

من جام مدام الهوى وجدك سكران

O friend, spare me reproach, for I

Am drunk from the goblet of love's wine—by your good fortune!

إن كنت محبي فخلني وغرامي

فالعشق حرام إذا يشاب بسلوان

If you love me, leave me and my passion alone;

For love is forbidden when mingled with forgetfulness.

أو سل فؤادي الكئيب بابنة حان

مع شدو قيان تدق آلة الحان

Or soothe my sorrowful heart with the tavern's daughter,

Amid songstresses' singing and the beat of a musical instrument.

أو خذ بيدي كي أرى زفاف حسين

إذ كل كريم يحسن ذلك جذلان

Or take my hand, that I may see Husayn's wedding,

For every noble man gladly approves of it.

يدعي بحسين تحبباً وجزيل

حسن مع لطف به وغاية إحسان

He is called Husayn in endearment, and for abundant

Beauty, with grace in him and the utmost kindness.

فالله يهنيه في الحياة دواما

بالعرس ليلقى بني بنيه ذوي شان

May God ever grant him happiness in life,

Through this marriage, so he may meet his sons' sons, men of distinction.

انعم بنجيب حوى العلا بعلوم

يزهو بحلاها مدى الزمان ويزدان

How fine a nobleman, who attained eminence through learning,

Glorying in its adornments, resplendent throughout time,

والسعد مجداً مؤثلا وفخاراً

والدين ودنيا فذاك اسعد اقران

And good fortune, firmly rooted glory, and honor,

And faith and worldly life—he is the most fortunate of his peers.

ان قيل اديب فقل نعم واريب

أو قيل انيس فقل وآنس انسان

If called a man of letters, say, 'Yes, and discerning.'

Or if called companionable, say, 'And the most companionable man!'

أو قيل حسيب فقل نعم ونسيب

من سام علاه يراه انسب اعيان

Or if called honorable, say, 'Yes, and noble-born.'

Whoever seeks his lofty rank finds him noblest-born among notables.

أو قيل فصيح فقل نعم وبليغ

سبحان معيد بهِ بلاغة سحبان

Or if called articulate, say, 'Yes, and eloquent.'

Glory to Him who revives through him the eloquence of Sahban!

من يصغَ لشعر يصوغه يتعجب

من لطف معانيه ان تأمل امعان

Whoever listens to the poetry he composes marvels

At the subtlety of his meanings, if he ponders deeply.

يا مفرد بيروت دم بأوج كمال

تزهو بمعال فأنت نزهة خلان

O peerless one of Beirut, remain at the pinnacle of perfection,

Glorying in high honors, for you are the delight of friends.

وافرح وتهنئ بذا الزفاف وأرخ

شمساً مع بدرٍ على الصفاء مقيمان

Rejoice, delight in this wedding, and record its date:

A sun and a full moon abide together in harmony.