عِشنا إلى أنْ رأَينا في الهوى عَجَبا

كلَّ الشهورِ وفي الأمثال عِشْ رَجبَا

We lived on until we saw a marvel in love—

through every month; yet the proverb says, “Live through Rajab.”

أَليسَ من عَجبٍ أني ضحى ارتْحَلوا

أوقدتُ من ماءِ دَمعي في الحَشا لَهَبا

Is it not a wonder that, when they departed in the morning, I

kindled, from the water of my tears, a flame within my breast?

وأنَّ أجفانَ عَيني أمطرَتْ وَرِقاً

وأنَّ ساحةَ خَدِّي أنبتَتْ ذَهَبَا

And that the lids of my eyes rained silver,

while the expanse of my cheek sprouted gold?

وإنْ تلهّبَ بَرقٌ من جَوانبِهمْ

توقّدَ الشّوقُ في جَنْبيَّ والْتَهبا

And I blazed with lightning from their quarters;

longing flared in both my sides, and both caught fire.

كأنَّ ما انْعقَّ عنهُ من مُعَصْفرِهِ

قميصُ يوسُفَ غشَّوْهُ دماً كَذِباً

As though what was laid bare from its saffron-dyed robe were

Joseph’s shirt, covered with false blood.