ماذا على ذلك المهفهف

لو مال للوصل أو تعطف

What harm would it do that slender-waisted one

If he inclined to union or showed tenderness?

بالغصن شبهته قواماً

والحق ان القوم الطف

I likened him to a branch in stature,

Yet truly, [his stature] is more delicate.

من وجنتيه الشقيق يجنى

ومن لماه العقيق يرشف

From his cheeks, anemones are plucked,

And from his dusky lips, agate is sipped.

قد عرفت بابل بسحر

والسحر من مقلتيه اعرف

Indeed, Babylon has been known for magic,

But magic is better known from his eyes.

بهزة العطف وهو رمح

ونظرة الطرف وهو مرهف

With a sway of his flank—a spear—

And a glance of his eye—a sharpened blade—

طال دمي واستهل دمعي

فذقت ما قد كفى وما كف

My blood went unavenged, and my tears poured forth;

So I tasted what already sufficed, yet did not cease.

مطبوعة في الغرام نفسي

والقلب من وجده مكلف

My soul is fashioned by nature for love,

And my heart is burdened by its longing.

كرامة للغرام فيه

اهنت من لامني وعنف

In honor of my love for him,

I scorned whoever blamed and harshly rebuked me.

فيا غريراً عليه دمعي

يبدع تجنيسة المصحف

So, O guileless youth, my tears for you

Create a pun through altered letter-dots.

بواوصد غيك عاد قلبي

نحوك دون الأنام يعطف

By the wāw-shaped curls at your temples, my heart returned,

Inclining toward you rather than all mankind.

حملني والهوى حمول

ثقل الهوى خصرك المخفف

It made me bear—and love bears much—

The weight of love: your slender waist.