ولائمة للثغر إثر ابتسامها

يريك عقود الدر سلك انتظامها

And one that chides the mouth after her smile—

The thread of their array shows you necklaces of pearls.

هي الشفة اللعساء معسولة اللمى

فمن لفتى مثلثي بشرف مدامها

It is the dusky lip, honey-sweet in its dark hue.

So who will grant a youth [like me?] the honor of her wine?

فما كان اشهاها من الثغر قبلة

إلي وما أحلى اقتضاب كلامها

So how desirable was a kiss from her mouth

To me—and how sweet the brevity of her speech!

وفي ذلك الملثوم منها تحية

تعرض قصدا كلهم لاغتنامها

And in that kissed mouth of hers lies a greeting;

All of them deliberately put themselves forward to win it.

وما علموا أن السهام تفوقت

إلى الموضع الحساس مرمى سهامها

And they did not know the arrows had been aimed

Toward the sensitive spot—the target of her arrows.

فلا تقلقوها بالتطلع إنّها

ستحظى الذي شاءت برد سلامها

So do not disturb her with eager gazing, for she

Will favor the one she chooses with her greeting in return.