1. She swayed her slender shape gracefully,
Embarrassing the bending branches.

2. She glanced with coy eyelids, catching his gaze,
While she was distracted and darkened.

3. A gazelle, shyly folding her robes,
Bending a branch and smiling a strung pearl smile.

4. A crystal branch in its qualities,
The leaves of al-Nasib murmuring gentle song.

5. No sooner was she adorned with necklaces, as though
The pearls of al-Nasib had composed necklaces for her.

6. A necklace of pure musk and solemn vows
Encircled her waist with its belt.

7. I realized from the redness of her cheek
That she was pleased, when I saw a cluster on her temple.

8. She inclined her neck gracefully, I knew her glances—
Gently, like the bending of the neck.

9. When she appeared, she was the rising gazelle,
When she glanced back, she was the gazelle’s neck.

10. Will our life of happiness return
Where the clouds of sorrow were dispelled?

11. A time when we attained the spring of pleasure,
Sweet union was ours, and the roses blossomed.

12. When the moons unveiled their faces,
Or the flowers unveiled their cheeks.

13. A land where the dew smiles
And the branches of the trees murmur secretly.

14. And like the kohl of eyelids, killing with love,
Beauty said to her glancing eyes, “Be black!”

15. I did not fear the devastation of her white face
Unless her eyelids became black.

16. The morning sun strove to describe her beauty,
But failure was destined - its light traditional.

17. Her glancing eyes protect swords from her mouth—
Roses, and roses from her cheek’s garden.

18. So the eye enjoys paradise after paradise,
While the heart prays for hell-fire as its fuel.

19. Her mouth is a treasure of pearls, though
It is guarded by the scorpion sting of her temple.

20. Her beauties have conquered hearts, so you see
Only those enslaved by love as leaders.

21. And she confounds me with coquetry - I did not know
That a lover cannot hear admonishment.

22. Passion claimed madness, so it blamed me -
Though to be led astray by passion is no guidance.

23. They said, “Be rational!” I said, “Passion has taken
From me a pact to keep this love.”

24. And my flowing tears, my youth,
My pounding heart and wasting are proof enough.

25. How excellent were those abodes of delight
Where she flirted, and gazelles grazed!

26. Where the watcher of love gave assistance,
And life was pleasant.

27. A land where faces shine like stars,
And gazers experience good fortune.

28. O Abdul, the light of your face is the straying
Of the fire-worshipers, when they saw the kindling flame.

29. And the Muslims saw the beauty of your face as a verse—
Denying polytheism, affirming monotheism.