لا تعجبوا منه فما حسنه

إلا بليغ حرت في وصفه

Do not marvel at him—how beautiful he is!

Eloquent though I am, I am at a loss to describe him.

إن كان قد أوجز في خصره

فإنه أطنب في ردفه

If he has been succinct in his waist,

then surely he has been expansive in his haunches.

وما أتى بالواو من صدغه

إلا وقد رتب في عطفه

And the wāw traced by his temple-lock

was set there only as a conjunction in his curve.

ولف في البردة أعطافه

حتى يطيب النشر من لفه

He wrapped his graceful form in the mantle,

that its unfolding might be sweetened by his enfolding.