بماذا أكافئُ ندباً كساني

حلى من علاه بها قد حباني

How can I reward tears that adorned me

With a necklace that made me graceful through its height?

وقلد جيدي من دره

ما لم تقلده نحور الغواني

And adorned my neck from his gems

That even the necks of gazelles were not adorned with.

محاسن أصبح لي لفظها

معاراً وأضحت لديه المعاني

Graces have become through his words

Common for me, and their meanings became for him exclusive.

فقل للذي حاز خصل المدى

فليس يباريه في السبق ثاني

So say to him who gained the farthest goal

That none can outrun him now in the race.

أهذي سمائلك الزاهرا

ت أهيدتها أم ثغورُ الحسان

Are these your swaying twigs that blossomed

Or the smiles of bliss that gave them rise?

أم الأنجم الزهر أطلعتها

على أفقٍ بسماء البيان

Or did the stars of flowers rise

Over a horizon in the sky of eloquence?

أم الوشي ما نمنمت راحتاك

أم الأعين الحور جاءت رَواني

Or did the zephyr flutter your comfort

Or did the eyes of heavenly maidens make me delighted?

أم الروضُ بات نديم الغمامِ

يسقيه من غير بنت الدنان

Or did the meadow spend the night entertaining clouds

Watering it without a water-skin.

يضاحكه عن ثغور البروق

ويشدوه من وعده بالأغاني

Laughing at it from a rain-cloud’s lips

And singing to it the promise of rain.

لئن زفَّ ودك نحوي لقد

غدا من فؤادي بأعلى مكان

If he marched his love towards me

It will rise from my heart to the highest abode.

ومهما أساءت بطول البعاد

خطوبٌ فقد أحسنت بالتداني

And however far absence lengthened

His approach made up for it by being so close.

كأن الزمان أتى تائباً

إلي وأنت اعتذار الزمان

It is as if time had relented

Towards me while you are time’s apology.