Translation
THE PEACEFUL WOMAN TO THE PEACEFUL MAN
If only you were to me like a brother,
Go to footnote numberwho was nursed at my mother’s breasts! Then, if I found you outside, I would
kiss you, and no one would despise me at all.
Go to footnote numberParaphrase
THE COMPLETE WOMAN TO THE COMPLETE MAN
Part of me wishes our relationship was close in a different kind of way, like the closeness of someone in my own family, someone who was nurtured the way I was nurtured. Then, whenever you felt alone and vulnerable, I could openly show you affection, and no one would tell me it wasn’t appropriate;
Footnotes
1
Her reference here to a brother is likely to a younger brother. This has direct bearing on something that is said later.
2: “No one would despise me”
If he were a younger brother her kisses would be a sign of affection, not submission, and she would be able to show him that affection in public; she was only allowed to show Solomon respect in public, not affection. From other statements she makes in The Song I do not think she struggles with submitting; I think this is a statement of how much she wants to be able to show him her affection all the time.