خليليّ وافت منكم ذات خلخال

تتيه على شمس الظهيرة بالخال

My beloved came to me wearing anklets

My two friends, a lady of your kin arrived, adorned with anklets, outshining the noon sun with the beauty mark upon her cheek.

Wandering in the midday sun through the moles

She sways, shaming the bending boughs with her gait, coming and going in robes of soft silk.

تميس فتزري بالغصون تمايلاً

تروح وتغدو في برود من الخال

She grazes on the branches, swaying

Her speech is sweet, possessed of Babylonian magic, soft in its flow yet sharper than a spearhead.

Going and coming in the coolness of seclusion

She is adorned with the wonders of your embroidery, veiled from every witless dullard.

لها منطقٌ حلو به سحر بابل

رخيم الحواشي وهو أمضى من الخال

She has a sweet logic, filled with Babylon's magic

I clothed her in the grace of every beauty; the brave man recoils at her sight as if facing a lion.

Whispering forelocks, more resolute than determination

The armor woven by David is not like a spider's web, nor does the slender maiden boast merely of an anklet.

موشحة من طرزكم ببدائع

محجّبة عن كل ذي فطنة خال

Cloaked in your finest compositions and wonders

Her only fault is her estrangement among mortals, finding neither sister nor kin to share her state.

Veiled from any clever one lacking intimacy

She came to me from afar, her resolve unshaken by vast wastelands or the power of a guardian.

وكسوتها النعماء من كل حسن

يصدّ لمرآها الشجاع كما الخال

And the grace dressed her in all beauty

She traversed the waterless desert in the gloom of night, crossing floods of cavalry and entourages.

Warding off any brave one from seeing her, like seclusion

She came to me—may my soul be her ransom—while the world slept, and I said: 'Welcome, for our time is now unburdened.'

فما نسج داود كنسج عناكب

ولا الغادة الهيفاء تزهو بخلخال

Neither did Dawood weave like the weaving of spiders

I spread my cheek as a path for her and said: 'Tread here, and do not think my cheek too proud to bear your step.'

Nor the lovely gazelle boast with anklets

And when we exchanged intimate words between us—for the sweetest meeting of lovers is in a secluded abode—

وما عيبها إلا التغرب في الورى

فلم تلق من أختٍ لها لا ولا خال

Her only flaw was being a stranger in the world

She began to speak of you as befits your worth, affirming that my affection is today more anchored than a mountain.

Thus she found no sister or intimates for her

I poured out to her the passion within my ribs, the pain of distance, longing, and tears falling like rain.

أتتتني على بعد ولم يثن عزمها

مهامهُ فيحٌ لا ولا سطوة الخال

She came to me from afar, her resolve undeterred

I spoke to her of my anguish and burning, and how I endure the nights watching for you like one watching for lightning.

By fears, whether of power or of seclusion

My very soul nearly melts at the memory of them, for I have no protector nor kin beside them.

تعسّفتِ الفيفاء في غسق الدجى

فكم قطعت نهراً من الخيل والخال

You trespassed, sparrow, in the darkness of night

Were it not for hope, I would have dissolved in sorrow, lamenting like a wretched lover undone by a beauty mark.

Thus how many rivers of horses and solitude did you cross?

I comfort my soul with hopes, praying for the generosity of a fate that was miserly, that it may return with the bounty of a raincloud.

أتتني فدتها النفس في حين غفلة

فقلت لها أهلا فذا وقتنا خال

She came and I ransomed my soul heedlessly

Saying to her, welcome - this is our time of intimacy

وأفرشتها خدّي وقلت لها طني

فلا تحسبي خدّي عليك بذي خال

I offered her my cheek, saying to her, nestle

Do not think my cheek would hurt you in any way

ولما تطارحنا الأحاديث بيننا

وأحلى تلاقي الخل بالمنزل الخالي

And as we exchanged sweet nothings

And the sweetest meeting of vinegar and an empty house

وعنكم غدت تنبي بما أنت أهله

وإن ودادي اليوم أرسى من الخال

You left, warning me against what you know I deserve

Though my love today is firmer than determination

وأبثثتها وجدي وما بين أضلعي

من البعد والأشواق والدمع كالخال

I confided to her my passion and what lies

Between my ribs - of distance, longing and tears like seclusion

وحدّثتها عن لوعتي وتحرّقي

وقطع الليالي بالتأمّل كالخال

I told her of my torment, my burning

And passing the nights in contemplation like solitude

تكاد لذاكرهم تذوب حشاشتي

وما لي سواهم من وليّ ولا خال

My thoughts for them are melting my sadness

And I have none but them, no friend or intimacy

ولولا الأماني كنت ذبت من الأسى

أقول كئيب نال ذلك من خال

And were it not for hopes, I would have melted from grief

Saying, alas - that came from determination

أروح نفسي بالأماني راجيا

سماحة دهرٍ ضنّ يرجع كالخال

I comfort my soul with hopes, desiring

The forgiveness of a time that narrowed then widened like seclusion