ما لي أَرى المَرءَ اللَعينَ قَدِ اِختَفى

هذي جِناياتُ الأُيودِ عَلى القَفا

Why I see the accursed man has disappeared

These are the crimes of love upon the skull

وَسمَت تَواسيمُ الحَبيبِ جَبينَهُ

وَالصَفعُ خَيرٌ لِلمُحِبِّ مِنَ الجَفا

And the beloved's marks have marked his forehead

And a slap is better for the lover than indifference

عَبَثَت بِهامَتِهِ النعالُ فَما اِنثَنَت

حَتّى اِنثَنى مِن وَقعِهِنَّ عَلى شَفا

His slippers danced on his pride but did not bend

Until he bent from their blow upon his lip

فَغَدا يُكَتِّمُ أَمرَهُ وَمُصابَهُ

طَمَعاً بِأَن يَخفى وَقَد بَرِحَ الخَفا

So he went to hide his affair and his injury

Hoping it would be hidden but secrecy has fled

هَيهاتَ أَن يَخفى مُصابُكَ بَعدَما

خَطَّ المَداسُ عَلى جَبينِكَ أَحرُفا

Alas, your injury cannot be hidden after

The stylus has etched letters on your brow