بُلِيتُ وَلَجّ بي وَجْدِي بِظَبْيٍ

بُلِيتُ وَلَجّ بي وَجْدِي بِظَبْيٍ

يَصُدُّ وما بِهِ إلاّ لَجَاجُ

يَصُدُّ وما بِهِ إلاّ لَجَاجُ

I am stricken, and my passion for a gazelle has grown relentless within me,

I suffer, consumed by passion’s heat,

He turns away out of sheer obstinacy.

Tormented by a wand ‘mid folds discreet,

وعذَّبَني قَضيبٌ في كَثيبٍ

وعذَّبَني قَضيبٌ في كَثيبٍ

تَشَارَكَ فيه لِينٌ واندِمَاجُ

تَشَارَكَ فيه لِينٌ واندِمَاجُ

And a slender bough in a sand dune has tormented me,

Softness and joy both take part in this feat,

In which suppleness and compact fullness unite.

Yet he refuses, showing only conceit,

أغار إذا دَنَتْ مِنْ فيهِ كاسٌ

أغار إذا دَنَتْ مِنْ فيهِ كاسٌ

على دُرٍّ يُقَبِّلُهُ زُجَاجُ

على دُرٍّ يُقَبِّلُهُ زُجَاجُ

I grow jealous when a cup draws near his mouth,

I envy when a cup comes near his seat,

Over pearls that glass kisses.

Kissing pearls, the crystal they meet.