1. My night lingered, so I did not depart,
And the dawn slept, so I did not rise,

2. I was a youth obsessed with pleasure,
And for me, amusement was unlocked,

3. I would spend the evening in joy,
And the morning playing happily,

4. But when the Imam of guidance forbade me,
And the splendid rising shone for me,

5. And a maid whose allure was stunning,
She was chaste, but if she jested, she would wink,

6. As if a musk rat lay slaughtered
In her pocket, on her neck,

7. As if the braids on her back
Were black serpents coiled on her hump,

8. She had an eloquent, captivating speech,
Like the kohl of brides, carefully applied,

9. And two eyes in which emotion flowed,
And a face for which prostration was owed,

10. And a breast whose sight demanded bowing down,
To which even the devout lowered their brows,

11. And a mouth, that if tasted, you would not die,
And life would be sweet and carefree for you,

12. And a soft cheek and a palm which if
She gestured with it, people praised,

13. And a leg adorned with anklets,
As if she was firm and threw spears,

14. She would laugh at intense cold,
Glittering as lightning flashed,

15. Of perfect proportions, tall and ample,
The parting of her hair braided and long,

16. When she was remembered, my tears outpaced me,
And for her sake my liver almost ruptured,

17. From her whiteness she gathered the anxiety of the youth,
As whey gathers cream to the surface,

18. She revealed the schemes of a crafty demon,
Who corrupted faith, not counseling sincerely,

19. And the fraud of a swindler in a jewel,
Pleasing to the eye of any who glanced,

20. She went beyond the gatherings of her peers,
As a mangy camel sticks out from the herd,

21. The Caliph prohibited me from mentioning her,
And I strove to please whatever delighted him,

22. So I turned away from my need of her,
And I almost died from being denied her,

23. For in my soul is a love of her,
With conversations that have no relief,

24. I left behind parties and companions,
And denied myself what would ruin me,

25. The debauched one bid the young man farewell,
And the dog greeted me, without barking,

26. So this is the time my wickedness has vanished,
And I embarked upon religion, no longer reckless,

27. I tested the son of Nahya, but he had
Nothing but eating or armoring himself,

28. That was a lad from the chiefs of the Nabataeans,
Who had grown accustomed to shamelessness,

29. He loves marriage but avoids piety,
That is the way of the Nabataean, he does not excel,

30. If you wish, you will find him lying down,
With a man on his back praising God,

31. You see him happy with his son's sodomy,
As if it were a disgrace to be exposed,

32. When it was just like the mother of the bride,
When her daughter is married, she rejoices.