وغادة مال قلبي نحوها وصبا

ومن لوحظها المرض شكا وصبا

And my heart inclined toward a graceful maiden and yearned for her;

And from her languid glances it complained of pain.

خُود إذا طلعت والبدرُ في أفُق

منها حياءٌ توارى البدرُ واحتجبا

A tender young maiden—when she appears, with the full moon on the horizon,

The full moon withdraws and hides, ashamed before her.

من دُونها كفلٌ بالخصر مُعتلقٌ

تراهُ من وجل كالموج مُضطربا

Below her, her rump clings to her waist;

You see it trembling with fear, like the waves.

وكم لها من قتيل وهي عائشة

وما قضى وطرا منها ولا أربا

And how many has she slain, though she is Aisha, the 'living one'!

Yet none satisfied a longing with her, nor fulfilled a wish.

يكادُ لو تبك ميّتا لعادلهُ

قبل المعاد الرُّوحُ الّذي ذهبا

Were she to weep over a dead man, there would almost return to him,

Before the Resurrection, the soul that had departed.

تقولُ إذ أبصرت عيناك غُرّتها

رُدُّوا على طرفي النّوم الذي سلبا

You say, when your eyes behold her radiant brow:

'Restore to my eye the sleep that was stolen!'