وَسَمراءَ تَحكي الرُمحَ لَوناً وَقامَةً

لَها مُهجَتي مَبذولَةٌ وَقِيادي

Dark-skinned beauty, she is like a spear in color and stature

I have given her my heart and leadership

وَقَد عابَها الواشي فَقالَ طَويلَةٌ

مَقالَ حَسودٍ مُظهِرٍ لِعِنادِ

The slanderer decried her as being too tall

The words of an envious and stubborn foe

فَقُلتُ لَهُ بَشَّرتَ بِالخَيرِ إِنَّها

حَياتي فَإِن طالَت فَذاكَ مُرادي

I said to him “You bring good tidings, she is

My life, so if she is tall, that is my desire

نَعَم أَنا أَشكو طولَها وَيَحِقُّ لي

لَقَد طالَ فيها لَوعَتي وَسُهادي

Yes, I complain of her height, and it is my right

For my yearning and wakefulness have been prolonged in her

وَما عابَها القَدُّ الطَويلُ وَإِنَّهُ

لَأَوَّلُ حُسنٍ في المَليحَةِ بادي

Her towering height was not decried, for it

Is the first of beauties in the elegant one

رَأَيتُ الحُصونَ الشُمَّ تَحرُسُ أَهلَها

فَأَعدَدتُها حِصناً لِحِفظِ وِدادي

I saw the lofty citadels guard their people

So I made her a fortress to guard my love