1. In my heart dwells a houri of Paradise in comfort
How can such a one dwell within when it is hellfire?

2. And that sickly-eyed one without any ailment
While many a healthy one is sick with passion in him

3. Know that the causes of love are indeed many
Hidden, though if revealed, none would blame the doting one

4. The tears of a youth's ardour are pearly white
Yet how can you see them as white when their essence is blood?

5. None attain the desire of their soul except the debauched
Who lavish whatever passion dictates or money can buy

6. One such as I, bankrupt, never attaining
The wish of his soul, that destitute orphan

7. My she-camel's neck smoothly alluring, browsing
Amid the sand-dunes is a straight firm twig

8. With his eyelids are Harut and Marut of Babylon
By their sorcery the people learn magic from them

9. When they breathe their charm, no amulet avails the lovesick
Nor does any salve cure their talk in the heart

10. So every person then says: O Lord, deliver me
You, You alone are the Deliverer

11. Whenever the whites of a Doe-eyed Beauty flash
And glance like arrows shot by a Turk

12. The Turks, had they passed the sons of Udhra
Would not be enamoured of the dark-eyed beauties

13. And they attribute their lineage to every male ancestor
Thereby the ancient refined eye is praised

14. He is the sun, the crescent moon, his gaze a new moon
Revolving in the necklace that is his night-dark eyes

15. They mention not Layla, nor Umm Jundub
Nor their legendary beauty Umm 'Amr or Kulthum

16. And how many languid gazes among them
Bashful, their glances coy and modest

17. His image when alone rivals the wine-drinker's revelry
The light of his countenance outshines the goblet's redolence

18. A princeling who fells the lion bowed in humility
When he scowls or when veiled from behind his cover

19. He attains all he desires at every impasse
Without knight or horse being pushed back confused

20. No coat of mail has been pierced by him
As if in it are snakes and leopards' eyes watching

21. Rather with a hint of his gaze he gestures
And the valiant army yields to him fully

22. He had no need for a helmet's protection
When his sword gleamed in the night, no darkness remained

23. He rules the minds of the wise with his beauty
While the magnificent, glorious King rules him

24. When he prays, no unbeliever on earth is afraid
Nor does any Muslim fear the enemies' might

25. He is the lion, if not for the lightning and thunder guarding him
He is the sea, boundless in generosity and greatest in greatness

26. He is the lion in valour, but the lion is playful
While Isa is always smiling radiantly

27. My Shaykh at Ash-Shi'ra, but poverty blocks my way
I own neither a dirham nor a drachma

28. You whose generosity encompasses the world
So none but I am deprived among mankind

29. Release my hand from what I lately possessed
And favour me by granting substitution, for I am forbidden

30. Bestow on me with your noble script, its blackness
Is the Black Stone, reverently touched and kissed

31. Be ever generous, attain wishes, and grant me success
You keep giving whom You will and depriving whom You will.