وحياة السكر والعسل

وهوى لهما ينفي كحلي

By the life of sugar and honey,

and a passion for them both that banishes my kohl,

وعقايد قد حلّت جلدي

تحلو إن مرّ بها جدلي

and knotted sweets that have undone my endurance,

which grow sweet if my debate about them turns bitter,

ودنان دانية وسقت

عسلاً وسقت فشفت عللي

and jars close at hand that held

honey and gave me drink, thus curing my ills,

ومجامع حلوى مُذ قطعت

وصلي نثرت دمع المقل

and gatherings of sweets—since they severed

my bond with them, I have shed tears from my eyes—

ما ملت إلى الحالوم ولا

قد مَل من الحلوى أملي

I have never inclined toward halloumi, nor

has my longing ever wearied of sweets.

لا تسلُ حُليو قلبي لا

وَدّعنَه أمَيرد ذا كحل

Do not forget my heart’s sweetling; do not

bid him farewell—a kohl-eyed, beardless little lad.

في نظرته أو خطرته

فتك بالبيض أو الأسل

In his glance or his swaying gait

lies death by bright swords or spears.

يزهو كالبدر وقامته

كالغصن ولكن لم يمل

He shines like the full moon, and his figure

is like a bough, yet he has not bent.

إن صدّ فصبري عنه يُرى

مثل البانيد مع البلل

If he turns away, my patience without him is seen

to be like banid sugar candy when wet.

ومحمد الحلواني مَن

حلّيت بعُقدته غزلي

And Muhammad al-Halwani is the one

with whose knot I have sweetened my love verse.

لو قيل أتَهوى طلعته

لأجبت سريعاً أي وعلي

Were I asked, “Do you love his countenance?”

I would answer at once, “Yes, by Ali!”