ومهفهف عبث الدلال بعقله

فمشى كمن للخمر راح يخامر

And coquetry toyed with a slender youth’s wits;

so he walked like one who had taken to drinking wine.

كشف النسيم عن الخدود لثامه

لكن عليه من الذوائب ساتر

The breeze drew his veil away from his cheeks,

but a covering of tresses lay over him.

حيا بامراط الحياء وزارني

فتقول قد قصر الصلاة مسافر

He greeted me in modesty’s robes and visited me;

you would say, “A traveler has shortened his prayer.”

سجت ذوائبه على لجج الدجا

هي تلك ظالمة وهذا كافر

His tresses lay still upon the deep seas of night:

those are unjust, and this is an unbeliever.

القى السلام مودعا ومسامراً

فمع السلام مودع ومسامر

He offered his greeting, bidding farewell and conversing by night;

so with the greeting come a farewell-bidder and a night companion.

وعجبت اذ نقش الخياء خدوده

فالروض محتبك الازاهر عاطر

And I marveled when modesty painted his cheeks:

the garden is fragrant, its blossoms intertwined.

رشت بدمع العاشقين وروده

وعليه قلبي دون صحبي طائر

Its roses were sprinkled with lovers’ tears,

and my heart, not my companions, hovers over him.