ومَعْدولَةٍ مَهْما أَمالَتْ إِزَارَها

فَغُصْنٌ وأَمّا قَدُّا فَقَضِيبُ

With swaying hips no matter how she hitches up her skirt

She is but a branch while my staff is rigid

لَها القَمَرُ السّارِي شَقِيقٌ وإنّها

لَتَطْلُعُ أَحْياناً لَهُ فَيَغِيبُ

The wandering moon is her lover, and though at times

She rises to meet him, he soon sets

أَقولُ لَها واللّيلُ مُرْخٍ سُدُولَهُ

وَغُصْنُ الهَوى غَضُّ النّباتِ رَطيبُ

I say to her as the night lets down its tresses

And the boughs of desire reach their prime:

ونحنُ بِهِ فَرْدانِ في ثِنْيِ مِئْزَرٍ

بِكِ العَيْشُ يا زَيْنَ النِّساءِ يَطيبُ

Though we're secluded in the folds of a robe

Life with you, fairest of women, is sweet

لأَنْتِ المُنَى يا زَيْنَ كُلِّ مَليحَةٍ

وأَنْتِ الهَوى أُدْعَى لَهُ فَأُجِيبُ

You are the wish, O beauty of all loveliness

You are love, I profess it, so hear me

فقالَتْ نَعَمْ إِنْ لَمْ يَكُنْ لَكَ غَيرَنا

بِبَغْدادَ مِنْ أَهْلِ القُصُورِ حَبيبُ

She answered: Yes, if you have no other

Love than I in Baghdad, in all its mansions