وَشادِنٍ كَالبَدرِ في تَمامِهِ

وَشادِنٍ كَالبَدرِ في تَمامِهِ

يَغارُ غُصنُ البانِ مِن قَوامِهِ

يَغارُ غُصنُ البانِ مِن قَوامِهِ

A young gazelle, like the moon in its fullness—

And a young gazelle, like the moon at its fullest—

The bān-tree bough grows jealous of his stature.

the bān-tree’s bough envies his stature.

ما لِلآلي الغُرِّ إِذ تَبرُزُ مِن

ما لِلآلي الغُرِّ إِذ تَبرُزُ مِن

أَصدافِها طِلاوَةُ اِبتِسامِهِ

أَصدافِها طِلاوَةُ اِبتِسامِهِ

What charm have radiant pearls, when they emerge from

The gleaming pearls do not have, when they emerge from

Their shells, beside the beauty of his smile?

their shells, the charm of his smile.

مُعَربِدُ الأَلحاظِ مِن سُكرِ الصِبا

مُعَربِدُ الأَلحاظِ مِن سُكرِ الصِبا

تُصبي الحَليمَ غُنَّةُ اِحتِلامِهِ

تُصبي الحَليمَ غُنَّةُ اِحتِلامِهِ

His glances revel in the drunkenness of youth;

His glances run riot, drunk with youth;

The soft lilt of his young manhood captivates even the prudent.

the nasal lilt of his budding manhood beguiles the prudent.

لَيسَ لِمَن تكلمُهُ أَلحاظُهُ

لَيسَ لِمَن تكلمُهُ أَلحاظُهُ

مِن مَرهَمٍ يَشفي سَوى كَلامِهِ

مِن مَرهَمٍ يَشفي سَوى كَلامِهِ

For one addressed by his glances, there is no

For one whom his glances wound, there is

Healing balm except his words.

no healing balm except his speech.

لَكِن غَدَت شيمَتُهُ البُخلَ وَقَد

لَكِن غَدَت شيمَتُهُ البُخلَ وَقَد

أَصبَحتُ لا أَطمَعُ في سَلامِهِ

أَصبَحتُ لا أَطمَعُ في سَلامِهِ

But stinginess has become his nature, and now

But stinginess has become his nature, and indeed

I no longer hope for even his greeting.

I no longer hope for his greeting.

وَلَو يَكونُ الطَّيفُ طَوعَ أَمرِهِ

وَلَو يَكونُ الطَّيفُ طَوعَ أَمرِهِ

لَم يَطمَعِ العاشِقُ في إِلمامِهِ

لَم يَطمَعِ العاشِقُ في إِلمامِهِ

Were the dream-phantom subject to his command,

And if the dream-phantom were at his command,

The lover could not hope even for its visit.

the lover would have no hope of its visit.