نقرت بإصبعها الزجاج بشرفتي

نقر الحمامة في صفاء البيدر

She tapped the glass at my balcony with her finger,

like a dove pecking in the serenity of the threshing floor.

وتلبثت لما فتحت تحسباً

قلت ادخلي العش الأمين ونقرى

And she lingered cautiously when I opened;

I said, 'Enter the safe nest, and peck.'

وتبدلت مني رؤاي حقيقة

وبدا بكأس الورد ذوب السكر

And my own visions turned into reality,

and melted sugar appeared in the rose's cup.

زققتها من حب قلبي واللمى

عنها يسقيني كفرخ أخضر

I fed her mouth-to-mouth with my heart's grain, and her dusky lips

gave me drink as though I were a green fledgling.

وتبادل الصدران من ضم الهوى

ضمات مقرورين في الفرش الثرى

And the two bosoms exchanged, in love's embrace,

the embraces of two chilled lovers in the rich bedding.

فأتاح مني الدفء نيمة وامق

قرم فخافت لوثة المستهتر

Then warmth let me take a lover's reclining pose,

hungry with desire; she feared a libertine's madness.

جفلت على الدفع الرفيق طبيعة

فوهمت وهن المذنب المتعثر

She recoiled instinctively at the gentle urging,

so I imagined the frailty of a stumbling sinner.

قالت فقد رأت الهيام بي اتئد

وبها عرفت الميل قلت لها احذري

She said, having seen the passion in me, 'Go slowly.'

And in her I recognized desire; I said to her, 'Beware.'

وترددت لكنني ساعدتها

متأثما في ورطة المتحير

And she hesitated, but I helped her,

shrinking from sin, in a bewildered man's predicament.

خشيت حماقات الشباب فباعدت

فبعدت بعد التائب المستغفر

She feared youth's follies and drew away;

so I withdrew like a penitent seeking forgiveness.

شكرت لي الدد والصيان فقلت لا

تتسرعى إن دام ذلك فاشكري

She thanked me for the dalliance and the restraint; I said, 'Do not

be hasty; if that lasts, then give thanks.'