أرى مقلتك واقمري الحمام

كنبل السهام

I see your eye, O turtledove among doves,

like a flight of arrows.

ونور الخدود الحسان الرحام

كبدر التمام

And the radiance of the lovely cheeks [perhaps marble-white]

is like the full moon.

لجيني الترايب حويلي الوشام

به القلب هام

Silver-white of chest, with ḥuwaylī markings [epithet unclear],

for him the heart went mad with love.

به أضحى معنى كثير الهيام

حليف الغرام

For him it became tormented, full of yearning,

a companion of passion,

سقيم مذاب

عظيم العذاب

ailing, melted away,

suffering grievous torment,

علق في الجناب

bound to the side

من أدعج خدلج فصيح الكلام

رديني القوام

of one dark-eyed and full-limbed, eloquent in speech,

with a stature like a Rudayni spear.

عقيلي من العذب مسكي الختام

سلب والسلام

My little mind, through sweetness sealed with musk,

was stolen—and that was that.

تعجبت في لون هذا الغزال

عديم المثال

I marveled at the hue of this gazelle,

without equal.

حوى تسعة أقسام له في الجمال

وزاده كمال

He possessed nine shares of beauty,

and perfection enhanced him.

بهي المحيا جميل الفعال

كحيل النجال

Radiant of face, beautiful in his deeds,

with wide, kohl-dark eyes.

تميم المعثكل بقده ركام

كليل الظلام

His full, clustered tresses lie massed along his figure,

like the darkness of night.

سبا ناظري

فمن ناصري

He captured my gaze;

so who will help me

على الفاخر

يبرد من الجوف حرّ الضرام

against the splendid one,

and cool the blazing heat within

بصافي المدام

وقبل خديده وميط اللثام

with clear wine,

and kisses on his little cheek, and drawing aside the veil?

ونمسي ضمام

متى يا حبيبي يزول الشقا

And may we spend the evening in an embrace.

When, my beloved, will misery cease,

ويأتي اللقا

متى الملتقى يا ظبي النقا

and reunion come?

When shall we meet, O gazelle of the sandhill?

رزقت البقا

تعطف على عاشقك وارفقا

May you be granted lasting life.

Be tender toward your lover, and show him kindness,

ولا تمهقا

فكثر التجافي وطول الصرام

and do not act harshly [word uncertain].

For so much shunning and such long estrangement,

تحوز الملام

عليش العناد

you earn reproach.

Why this obstinacy,

وطول البعاد

فجد يا سعاد

and this long separation?

So be generous, O Su‘ad,

على العاشق الواله المستهام

to the bewildered, love-maddened lover,

قليل المنام

مدامعه من فوق خدّه سجام

who scarcely sleeps.

His tears stream over his cheek,

كوبل الرذام

like a downpour of rain.