1. يا هلالاً في منزلِ القلبِ حلّا

    بانَ للقربِ هالةً فَاِستهلّا

    O crescent moon that has settled in the heart's abode,

    You appeared up close as a halo, and shone forth.

  2. أَطلعَ الحسنُ مِن جبينكَ شَمسا

    فَوق وردٍ مِن وَجنتيك وطلّا

    Beauty brought forth from your brow a sun

    Above the roses of your cheeks, and dew.

  3. وَكأنّ العذارَ خافَ على الور

    دِ ذُبولاً فَمَدّ بِالشعرِ ظلّا

    And your cheek-down, as if fearing for the rose,

    Spread a shade of hair lest it wither.

  4. في مُحيّاك عذرُ طرفي لِقلبي

    إِذ بهِ عاذِلي عليه اِستدلّا

    In your face lies my gaze's excuse before my heart,

    For my reproacher used that face as evidence against it.

  5. رِيقكَ العذبُ سكّرٌ مِنه سُكري

    يا له اللّه ما أحلّ وأحلى

    Your sweet saliva is sugar; from it comes my intoxication.

    Ah, God! How lawful and how sweet it is!

  6. وَبعينيكَ آيُ سحرٍ ولكن

    يَسجدُ القلبُ طائعاً حينَ تُتلى

    And in your eyes are verses of magic; yet

    The heart prostrates itself willingly when they are recited.

  7. عزّك اللّه هَل لَديك لعانٍ

    من فداءٍ أَو منّة فَيسلّى

    May God honor you! Have you, for a captive,

    Any ransom or gracious release, that he might find solace?

  8. كانَ يَأوي لطودِ صبرٍ شديدٍ

    زعزعَ الحسنُ ركنهَ إِذ تجلّى

    He used to shelter in a mountain of steadfast patience;

    Beauty shook its foundation when it revealed itself.

  9. قَد غَزا سيفُ لحظهِ في فُؤادي

    وَهو في جفنهِ بغنجٍ محلّى

    The sword of his glance has invaded my heart,

    While in its sheath, adorned with coquetry.

  10. وَأَلانت قَسيّ قَلبي قِسيٌّ

    مِن حَواجيبهِ يسدّدن نَبلا

    And bows softened my heart's hardness—

    Those of his eyebrows, aiming arrows straight.

  11. قد أقرّت شفاههُ عند نطقٍ

    أَنّ في فيهِ خمرةً فهيَ خَجلى

    His lips, in speaking, have confessed

    That there is wine in his mouth; so they are ashamed,

  12. تَتوارى بشاربٍ سندسيٍّ

    علّ مِنها بقبلةٍ فَاِستهلّا

    Hiding behind a silken moustache.

    Drink again from them with a kiss, and shine forth.