1. I’m just a wildflower picked from the plains of Sharon,a lotus blossom from the valley pools.
2. A lotus blossoming in a swamp of weeds—that’s my dear friend among the girls in the village.
7. Oh, let me warn you, sisters in Jerusalem,by the gazelles, yes, by all the wild deer:Don’t excite love, don’t stir it up,until the time is ripe—and you’re ready.
10-14. Get up, my dear friend,fair and beautiful lover—come to me!Look around you: Winter is over;the winter rains are over, gone!Spring flowers are in blossom all over.The whole world’s a choir—and singing!Spring warblers are filling the forestwith sweet arpeggios.Lilacs are exuberantly purple and perfumed,and cherry trees fragrant with blossoms.Oh, get up, dear friend,my fair and beautiful lover—come to me!Come, my shy and modest dove—leave your seclusion, come out in the open.Let me see your face,let me hear your voice.For your voice is soothingand your face is ravishing.
15. Then you must protect me from the foxes,foxes on the prowl,Foxes who would like nothing betterthan to get into our flowering garden.