1. I pretended until it was said to me, “You are a lover!”
Passionately infatuated with a cheek and remembrances.
١. تَشَبَّبتُ حتّى قيلَ لي أَنتَ عاشِق
تَولع ولهاناً بخودٍ وذكرانِ
2. But I have no love, nor any infatuation,
I have no distant beloved, neither near.
٢. وَما بِيَ مِن عشقٍ وَلا مِن صَبابَةٍ
وَما لِيَ مَعشوق بَعيدٌ ولا داني
3. That is not from me, nothing but pure imagination,
Coming from the most artful verses and rhythms.
٣. وَما ذاكَ مِنّي غَير مَحضِ تَخَيُّل
لآتيَ مِن أَسنى القريضِ بِأَفنانِ