1. I see passion strongest when I find no doctrine for love's creed,
So who can save me from the fire of your rejection and passion's blaze,

2. That sets aflame my heart and ribs with burning throes?
My heart refused to forget your love, for it would betray

3. A heart that strayed from loving you, if it should disobey.
Have you not seen how it finds sweet the pangs whenever

4. It bears the throes of love and torture’s agony?
By my soul, the full moon rose in the night of desolation,

5. Its rising is for the sleepless - bless its orbit!
Never before have I seen a moon so perfect as his face.

6. He has nobility when the mole adorns his temple.
A gazelle called the hearts to love him, so he spent the night

7. Beloved of all hearts, holding fast the forelock.
His eyelashes humble the wild cows, and sometimes

8. They redden with the blood of lovers at dawn.
He has a glance - where are the wild cows to its languor?

9. Nay, where are they compared to it beforehand?
He reproaches me while the fault in love is his fault,

10. And asks about my sickness - its cause from him derived.
And claims I'm guilty, so I obey him

11. Consenting, though I am not guilty in this matter.
And I love the blame of the slanderers for his mention,

12. Though I find no slanderers except those who reprove me.
I wonder at the affair of love - a wonderous thing, wherein I see

13. No wonder save that I see from it more wonders.
The slain of love ransom their killer in passion,

14. And pass the night in captivity, in awe of him.
The heart asks about him while it harbors

15. Him, and speaks intimately to lightning or a zephyr's breeze.
Sometimes the moan of a dove makes him whimper

16. In a melody you see adapted for youth.
With tears his eyes turn to God, and a heart

17. That refused but to turn toward Him in fickleness.
The army of love conquered him - he passed from dignity

18. To be, at the hands of one who captured him, a hostage under duress.
As al-Mansur conquered al-Muqanna' with victory,

19. So victory over him was hoped for, for guidance.
Truly he had been an impregnable fortress, a refuge,

20. And the destroyer of heroes for whoever desired his downfall.