وَأَهدى ليَ المَحبوبُ الأترُجَّ مُحسنا

فَيا حُسنَهُ مَولىً بِهِ عزَّ عَبدُهُ

The beloved gifted me a flower, pleasing and kind

Oh, his kindness, enriching his faithful servant

ثَمانيَ حَبّاتٍ غَرَسنَ مَحَبَّةً

وَهَيَّجنَ مِن وَجدٍ تَقادَمَ عَهدُهُ

Eight petals planted a love

And stirred up passion with an age-old covenant

تَجمَّعَ لي المثلانِ لوني وَلَونُها

كَما اِجتَمَعَ الضدّانِ قُربي وَبعدُهُ

The two colors gathered for me, its color and mine

As two opposites come together, my nearness and its distance

وَلَكن حَوى راءً وَجيما حُروفُهُ

فَرَجَّيتُ أَن يَسخُو وَيَذهَبَ ضِدُّهُ

Yet it contained a Raa and Jeem, its letters

I hoped its opposite would fade and go away

وَجاءَ كَما يُرجَى مِن الصَخر لينُهُ

وَمِن حَرِّ أَنفاسي وَقَلبي بَردُهُ

And it came, as softness hoped for from rock

And coolness for my burning breath and heart

أُعَلِّلُ قَلبي بِالأَماني وَكَم صدٍ

رَأى الماءَ لَكن لَيسَ يُمكنُ وِردُهُ

I justify my heart with wishes, and how often

One saw water but cannot reach to drink it

فَحَسبيَ مِن وَصلٍ كَلامٌ وَنَظرَةٌ

وَذا غايَة الصَبِّ العَفيفِ وَقَصدُهُ

For me, it’s enough from a union but words and a glance

This being the limit of chaste passion and its aim

وَلَم أَرَ مِثلي كانَ أَكتَمَ لِلهَوى

صِيانَةُ حُبِّي إن يُدَنَّسَ بردُهُ

And I have not seen anyone who concealed his love more

Keeping my love safe if its coolness is violated