أَسحرٌ لِتلكَ العَينِ في القَلبِ أَم وَخز
وَلينٌ لِذاكَ الجسمِ في اللَمسِ أَم خَزُّ
Is it sorcery from those eyes within the heart, or a sting?
And is that body's softness to the touch—or silk?
وَأملود ذاكَ القَدّ أَم أَسمَرٌّ غَدا
لَهُ أَبَداً في قَلبِ عاشِقِهِ وَهزُ
Is that figure a supple sapling, or a dusky spear become—
Forever thrust and quivering in its lover's heart?
فَتاة كَساها الحُسنُ أَفخرَ مَلبَسٍ
فَصارَ عَلَيهِ مِن مَحاسِنِها طرزُ
A maiden whom beauty clothed in the proudest garment,
Upon which her charms became embroidery.
وَأَهدى إِلَيها الغُصنُ لينَ قوامِهِ
فَماسَ كَأَنَّ الغُصنَ خامرَهُ العِزُّ
The branch bestowed upon her the suppleness of its form,
Then swayed, as though pride had made the branch drunk.
يَضوعُ أَديمُ الأَرضِ مِن نَشر طيبِها
وَيخضَرُّ في آثارِها تُربُهُ الجرزُ
The face of the earth breathes fragrance from her wafted perfume,
And in her footprints its barren soil grows green.
وَتَختالُ في بُردِ الشَبابِ إِذا مَشَت
فيُنهِضُها قَدٌّ وَيقعِدُها عَجزُ
She struts in youth's mantle whenever she walks:
Her stature lifts her up, her ample hindquarters weigh her down.
أَصابَت فُؤادَ الصَبِّ مِنها بِنَظرَةٍ
فَلا رُقيةٌ تُجدي المُصابَ وَلا حِرزُ
With a single glance from her, she struck the ardent lover's heart;
No healing spell avails the stricken man, nor any amulet.
أَقامَ زَماناً وَهوَ أَخرَسُ باهِتٌ
فَإِن رامَ تَكليماً يَكونُ لَهُ رَمزُ
Long he remained mute and dumbfounded;
If he attempts to speak, he can only gesture.
وَلَو أَنَها تَسخو بِأَدنى وِصالِها
لأَقنَعَهُ المسكينُ مِن لَحظِها غَمزُ
If only she would generously grant the least communion,
A wink from her eyes would satisfy the poor man.
Sol 5.6