كلفت بوجهٍ فيه بعض سماحةٍ

كلفت بوجهٍ فيه بعض سماحةٍ

رجاءً بأن يحلو إذا هو عذّرا

رجاءً بأن يحلو إذا هو عذّرا

I became enamored of a face with some beauty,

I was enchanted by a face that held some gentleness

Hoping it would grow lovelier when it sprouted cheek-down.

Hoping it would be sweet if it were to excuse

وغير بعيدٍ أن تزانَ بلحيةٍ

وغير بعيدٍ أن تزانَ بلحيةٍ

فقد ينبت المرعى على دمن الثرى

فقد ينبت المرعى على دمن الثرى

And it is not unlikely that you will be adorned with a beard,

And not far that it would be balanced with a beard

For pasture grass may grow upon the earth's dung heaps.

For pasture may grow on the dung of soil