له من عيون الوحش عين مريضة

له من عيون الوحش عين مريضة

ومن خضرة الريحان خضرة شاربِ

ومن خضرة الريحان خضرة شاربِ

He has a languid eye like the eyes of wild creatures,

His eyes, wild with sickness,

And a mustache with the greenness of basil.

His cheeks, the green of sweet basil,

كأن غلاماً ماهراً خطه له

كأن غلاماً ماهراً خطه له

فجاء كنصف الصادمن خط كاتب

فجاء كنصف الصادمن خط كاتب

As though a skilled youth had drawn it for him,

As if traced by a skilled youth’s hand

So it took shape like half the letter ṣād in a scribe’s handwriting.

Resembling the fine pen strokes of a scribe