1. O one with tender glances and tender cheeks,
With supple waist and arrows that pierce,

2. Who placed roses and gardens in my soul,
And adorned the necklace of passion - who else?

3. What is this distracted, confused cheek,
That blocked the paths of kisses and aimed?

4. Show me a moon rising on the horizon,
Wandering or crawling between stars.

5. Beauty's water drips from it, and it sways
When the oar of the rower sways it.

6. One who is excessive in beauty cannot be blamed
If he is unfair to his lovers or goes too far.

7. He gathered his dogs and roused them,
So I said, your twisted cheek is enough for you,

8. It spares you your glances’ arrows and your
Unsheathed sword and your pliant stature.

9. And I refrained from his tales,
And death without touching them comes slowly.

10. So pass, pass, O clouds drawing the
Wonder of rain, and the excellent separator of companions.

11. It said, the roses blushed angrily in his cheeks,
It is time they were plucked.

12. One like you throws a hand on me -
Does he not fear my gaze will destroy him?

13. If a lion passed me he would die of fear, and if
He saw my phantom in a dream he would not blink.

14. I am the melted punishment, the blackest lion,
Fiercest in might, and clearest in purity.

15. A more capable youth than me, if
My eyes fell on him, would be ruined in that moment.

16. If we drank the daughter of the vine in
White cups we would live, and with goblets be endowed.

17. If not for my self-control and my discipline
That I am mighty and you are weak.

18. I would have slaughtered the sky above me
And the earth beneath us would sink.

19. So I said, wait, for you are not the first
To err in ignorance before knowing.

20. The full moon does not eclipse the darkness with
Its brocade, and the sea does not bleed.

21. I decided to curse you, so do not
Listen to the twisted and cruel.

22. And do not leave me to the oath, for if
I wished, I would devour the Psalms and the Mus'haf.

23. So turn away from pearl and uncover the rose,
And I kissed him, and he did not protest.

24. And he said, what do you desire? I said,
Let us rid our enviers by ridding them.

25. So he turned to me and the darkness covered him,
And his dawn was in his tender hand.

26. To gardens caressed by drops, what
Its flowers embroidered and secreted.

27. Among young men who knew the pleasure of life,
And attained its gentle bliss.

28. This one greets, that one is jealous, this
Kisses reluctantly, that one implores.

29. The coolness of earth is our coolness, and the
Full moon sprinkled its lights upon us.

30. And between us two are wines from the sap
Of the vine, more delicious than tarragon.

31. And God was kind to me with a step
The like of which, to one like me, is kindness.

32. I recited him revelatory poetry, so how
Could he kiss those lines and letters?

33. And he died of drunkenness, so I died of joy,
And the veil of passion nearly lifted.