بِالجفن سَقم وَبِالاِهداب ايماء

وَفي اللَواحِظ تَحذير وَاِغراء

With eyelids sick and eyebrows beckoning

In glances, warning and temptation dwelling

وَبِالحَواجِب نون وَالعذار بِهِ

لامَ وَخالاه مَع وُجناتِه تاء

With arched brows, a noon, and with coquetry

A lam, while moles and dimples are a taa

وَالقد كَالغُصنِ لَولا نبل حاجِبه

غَنَّت عَلَيهِ اِذا لَم يَمشِ وَرقاء

The stature like a branch; but for the brow’s nobility

It would have, if not walking tall, bent and swayed

لِلَهِ در الثَنايا كَم لسلسلها

لَدى الرواة أَحاديث وَأَنباء

What secrets do the soft folds hide!

What tales and news for narrators to relay!

مِن بَعدِ ما اِخضَرَّ عيشى اِغبر رَونَقه

وَأَدمُعي لِبَياض الفود حَمراء

After my life has lost its verdant grace,

My tears turn red the cheeks’ white robe to stain

وَالجِفن أَهدى لَنا بِالاِنكِسار جَوى

وَكَيفَ صَح لَدى الاِسقامِ اِهداء

The closing lids relay an aching heart’s distress.

How can the sick at heart bear dedication?