1. I loved an American girl, her affection lasted
It remained, but not so for the Ghanaian girl

2. I inclined to India, but when I saw her
I found solace in her, though India did nothing

3. My eyes revealed to her that a young man
Was stirred in my chest, though I feared revealing it

4. She cast it to the ground and smiled
Is the silence of passion intentional or coincidental?

5. I said, “Peace be upon you,” she said “And His blessings.”
I said, “Is this jest or earnest?”

6. I held my breath and listened intently
Ebb and flow within me and within my hearing

7. She said, “We wish we knew of the young man
And what he seeks.” I said, “A slave seeks only what he must.”

8. “He has a burning liver and a cloven heart”
I erred - passion has no heart or liver

9. A slain man, but his garb is a shroud for him
And every place in which he rests is his tomb

10. “So if his gaze does not mend the rending of passion
Return to him his heart, though you care not for it”

11. A blush suffused her cheeks as though
Passion itself ascended from my heart to her cheek

12. And passion drew her close to me, and drew me
Until we thought we were but one being

13. Our spirits electrified, and when she sighed
I sighed until my chest nearly collapsed

14. We spoke of what I remembered and treasured
But what came after made me forget it entirely

15. I ordered my heart to obey hers
To weep when she wept and sing when she sang

16. And I said to myself, “This is the height of desire
This is the place for gratitude, if praise escapes you”

17. But if you turn from it, and some remains in you
Then you, my soul, are naught but my contrary

18. Nights passed, and desire pulled upon desire
My heart bent and stiffened however she willed

19. She came and went while the nights were as though
They stood still, neither coming nor going

20. And still she hid her flaws from me
Until the blindness passed and clarity emerged

21. Fate saw a barrier around our two hearts
It remained until a wall rose between us

22. I was deceived by her - the free are easily deceived
My fortune bodes no good, nor do my stars

23. We had sworn to die in passion’s name
Yet she remained only as long as a rose

24. As though I never pressed my lips to hers
As though my arm never encircled her neck

25. We never embraced in the dark, while the living slept
Nor hid ourselves in the garden, while the night stretched on

26. The songbirds' melody at dawn never stirred us
No wall enclosed us, no cold confined us

27. Does the sword scorn its sheath if it is made anew?
Would it spurn the fine Yemeni blade if a scabbard were fashioned?

28. If my hair’s color is not to your liking
My blood is still white, my tresses still black

29. So do not gloat over me, I am not safe
Do not reject it, it is not worthy of rejection

30. It is the conquering invader whom no fortresses or armies can repel
If it were not for the gray hair, I would have repelled it

31. But the decree of God cannot be rejected
If you turn from my parting though it still be black

32. Oh, how often you kissed it when it was darkened!
May God heal my soul - may He not heal hers!

33. May the tears and wakefulness not leave her eyes!
Her lips are no pearls, nor are her eyes agates

34. Her tears no drops of dew, nor her saliva sweet as honey
Her stature is no branch, she is no gazelle

35. Her waist no pit, her hips hold no abundance
Her face is no sun, her hair no darkness

36. Her breast kindles no passion, her union no chill
To my soul the rubble is more beloved than meeting her

37. And the ape's visage more beautiful than her face
If you touch the garb I'm wearing

38. I'll shred the garb lest it be plundered
If you approach the house in which I dwell

39. I'll abandon it, even if it be eternal paradise
If passion remains his religion, so be it

40. For I do not fear blame, even if deemed an apostate