1. وجوه شقائقٍ تبدو وتَخْفى

    على قُضُبٍ تميدُ بهنَّ ضَعْفا

    Faces of anemones appear and hide

    On stalks that sway with them from weakness.

  2. تراها كالعذارى مُسبِلاتٍ

    عليها من جميمِ النبت سَجفا

    You see them like maidens, letting fall

    Over themselves a veil of luxuriant greenery.

  3. تنازعتِ الخدودِ الحمرَ حُسناً

    فما إِن أخطأت منهنَّ حرفا

    They vied with red cheeks in beauty,

    And did not miss a single feature of them.

  4. إذا طَلَعتْ أَرَتْكَ السُّرجَ تُذكى

    وإن غَرَبتْ أرتك السُّرجَ تطفا

    When they rise, they show you lamps being kindled;

    And if they set, they show you lamps being quenched.

  5. تُخالُ إذا هي اعتدلت قياماً

    زجاجاتٍ مُلِئن الخمرَ صِرْفا

    When they stand upright, they seem to be

    Glass bottles filled with undiluted wine.

  6. إذا ما جمَّشتْها الريحُ أومَتْ

    لتقبيل الخدود حياً وظرفا

    When the wind caresses them, they nod

    To kiss cheeks, with bashfulness and charm.

  7. يُجَنُّ بهنَّ زهرُ الرَّوض عُجباً

    إذا ما زهرهُنَّ بهنَّ حَفَّا

    The meadow's flowers go mad with admiration for them

    When their blossoms gather round them.

  8. فما تألو أقاحيهنَّ ضِحْكاً

    وليس يُغضُّ نرجسهنَّ طَرْفا

    So their daisies do not stint their laughter,

    And their narcissi never lower their gaze.

  9. وما ينفكُّ سُوسنُهنَّ يُصغي

    بآذانٍ جَفَت قُرطاً وَشِنْفا

    And their irises never cease to listen

    With ears that shun earrings at both lobe and rim.

  10. أَبيتُ فما أكفُّ عن التصابي

    بهنَّ وكيف يَحسُننُ أن أَكفّا

    I pass the night, not ceasing my youthful dalliance

    With them—and how could it be fitting to desist?