1. When Ghanea saw me wailing
She exclaimed: How strange O Zuheir, how strange!

2. She saw some gray hairs scattered on my temples
While my branches were still fresh with the water of youth.

3. She denied that I had gray amidst my youth
And said: “It’s gray hair!” I said: “That is gray hair.”

4. I only grayed because of the events of her estrangement,
Even though my pact with youth was still near.

5. I knew passion before passion became known.
And I still have a share of it hidden from me.

6. I have not seen a heart tortured like mine -
Each day it has agony and sorrow.

7. I had thought nothing of a glance of love,
Yet now it has lit a blaze in my heart.

8. I left the one who wanted, with his words,
To defame, deride, make light of, find faults.

9. For he was only annoyed by the sweetness of my talk
And that I am a playful, jesting tongue.

10. I am spirited by the intoxication of love
And I don’t care if I am called insane.

11. A debauched lover, a reckless passionate -
My heart delights in all this and is content.

12. I have cast off my chastity, rather I wear my promiscuity,
And am candid so I am not called doubtful.

13. It is enough for me that my beloved is true and kind,
While the critic full of hatred dies of rage.

14. There is no life unless a drink is passed around,
No intimacy unless the beloved visits.

15. And so passion calls me and I respond,
Yet propriety reins me in and I repent.

16. I hoped for one noble, trusting his goodness,
And one who hopes for the noble is not disappointed.

17. So O You who loves forgiveness, I am a sinner,
And there is no forgiveness unless sins exist.