1. My nights' tears after joy from a lover who pained my eyes with weeping,
I met on Tuesday walking haughtily though distressed at heart.

2. I had a door, a place to meet; his company came and mine own company failed me.
She let fall to me softly a girdle, then scolded me with it though I was the scolded one.

3. My tongue was not slack in answering though its replier was none but fighting.
I said, "After this meeting is there any more?" She said, "How can the unbroken unite with the broken?"

4. She went not till love turned to me again as the mill turns above the pivot.
My love returned through that newly enkindled yet how often have I had my sufficiency of them!

5. The sun's image in the veil of a girl who offered herself to me but my heart was not for loving.
Let not life be mine if there be no draught for me from her approval without compulsion.

6. She was created unique, and I am not innocent towards one like her, wild, who will not be tamed or trained.
O thou who bringest her counsel, say unto her from a love-captive and sorrowful heart,

7. "Speak to me for thou art the delight of my eye; lovest thou me, hast thou gained my love?"
The wadies have made the roads difficult to thee so I find no way to thee but on the backs of the air.

8. Sleep, if thou shouldst accord therein a visitation, would try us with mange and fleas.
I am by reason of my love for thee the weak one whom desire for thee will not release.

9. And if the passion should be diverted from me her bereavement would be my redemption, O excellent ransom!
Remember me if thou art remembered in the vale of trees with good - thou wouldst relieve some of my sorrow.

10. Naught has urged me to passionate love for thee, since we were parted, save my rising to seek thee out.
I desire thy nearness, hopefully, and God is near, but dost thou desire my nearness?

11. I will clarify my affection for thee, then excuse thee the need to heed any crime.
Favor me with a union like mine, lasting, be not thou one who tastes all manner of unions.

12. Would that I knew if thou hast renewed when we met or if thou repellest one who toys with thee.
We have doubted what thou didst pledge us and thirsted: direct us then to the watering place.

13. Would that I had lived until I saw him among lovers of you, beyond lovers,
Who sings privately your name in truth and spies upon the foe, a mother and a gift,

14. And ransoms you, except for him, in the assembly of the tribe, and aids you with his ransom, by my Lord!
You are to me among lovers a like, nay, beyond the like. Open your door to a pleading one.

15. Should absence come between us, its term will see me keeping the pledge.
When your glances alight, grace covers the country, without need for rain.

16. The full moonsborrow from your face; through you God shows favor.
With you is the perfect gentleness that revives the troubled soul.