ظلَمْتُكِ مذ شبهتُ عُودِك بالقَنَا

ظلَمْتُكِ مذ شبهتُ عُودِك بالقَنَا

وشَعْرَكِ بالظَّلْما وثغرك بالفجر

وشَعْرَكِ بالظَّلْما وثغرك بالفجر

I wronged you when I likened your supple form to spear shafts,

I have wronged you since I likened your figure to spear shafts,

your hair to darkest night, and your smile to dawn;

and your hair to darkness, and your mouth to dawn,

ونهديكِ بالرُّمانِ والخدَ بالمها

ونهديكِ بالرُّمانِ والخدَ بالمها

وريقك بالصَّهْبَا وعينَكِ بالسِحْرِ

وريقك بالصَّهْبَا وعينَكِ بالسِحْرِ

your breasts to pomegranates, your cheek to the white oryx,

and your breasts to pomegranates, and your cheek to white crystal,

your mouth’s nectar to wine, and your eyes to magic;

and your saliva to reddish wine, and your eye to magic,

ومبسَمَكِ الدُّريَّ بالبرقِ والطِلا

ومبسَمَكِ الدُّريَّ بالبرقِ والطِلا

بجيد طلاء الرِيم في مَهْمَةٍ قَفْرِ

بجيد طلاء الرِيم في مَهْمَةٍ قَفْرِ

your pearly smile to lightning, and your neck

and your pearly smile to lightning, and your neck

to the necks of white-gazelle fawns in a barren, trackless waste.

to the necks of white gazelle fawns in a barren wilderness.

ولكنني يا عُلْو لستُ بواجدٍ

ولكنني يا عُلْو لستُ بواجدٍ

بما يقتضي التشبيهُ في صيغةِ الشعرِ

بما يقتضي التشبيهُ في صيغةِ الشعرِ

But I, O ʿUluww, cannot find

But, O ʿUlw, I am not enamored

in the form of verse what such comparison demands.

of what simile demands in poetic expression.

فقالت لعمري ما نَصَفْتَ وفي الهوى

فقالت لعمري ما نَصَفْتَ وفي الهوى

شرائعُ تجري غير ما شَرْعُكم يجري

شرائعُ تجري غير ما شَرْعُكم يجري

She said, “By my life, you have not dealt fairly; in love

She said, “By my life, you have not been fair; in love

laws hold sway unlike whatever you men decree should hold sway.”

laws follow a different course from your own law.”

فقلتُ وربِ البيتِ إني لهائمٌ

فقلتُ وربِ البيتِ إني لهائمٌ

باعطافكِ الحسناء يا درةَ الخِدْرِ

باعطافكِ الحسناء يا درةَ الخِدْرِ

I said, “By the Lord of the House, I am indeed lovestruck

I said, “By the Lord of the House, I am indeed love-struck

by your lovely, graceful form, O pearl of the curtained chamber.

by your beautiful curves, O pearl of the secluded chamber.

وليس شجاني كلُّ وصفٍ ذكرتُه

وليس شجاني كلُّ وصفٍ ذكرتُه

فلا تظهري الأحقادَ يا بهجةَ الدَّهْرِ

فلا تظهري الأحقادَ يا بهجةَ الدَّهْرِ

Yet not every trait I named has filled me with aching longing,

And not every description I mentioned stirred my longing;

so show no rancor, O delight of the age.”

so show no resentment, O delight of the age.”