من كلِّ نهدٍ ضامر عبل الشوى

منه إلى نحوِ العدوِّ نهودُ

From every fading breast that yearns for love

Towards the foe it sends its sighs thereof

من أشهبٍ مثلٍِ الشهابِ بنارِه

يرمي رجيمٌ من عداكَ مريدُ

From one whose hue is like a fading spark

A stalwart youth darts arrows at each mark

وكأنه التحف الصباح ملاءةً

فقميصُهُ من نورهِ مقدودُ

As though the morn had clothed him with her light

His shirt with rays of glory is bedight

أو أدهم حامي الذِّمار فكأنَّما

هو في بني حامٍ إذاً معدُودُ

Or dark as night when wines to sparkle brought

Amid the sons of Ham he would be sought

أو أصفر سامي الثليل كأنَّما

جيدُ الغزالةِ منه ذاك الجيدُ

Or fair though languid as a dim starved fawn

Gazelles would envy him that delicate form

التبرُ لون والزبرجدُ حافرٌ

لونُ الخدودِ يَزِينُها التوريدُ

Pure crystal seems his skin, chrysolite his toe

His blushing cheeks would make carnelians glow

أو أشقرٍ كالبرقِ في لونٍ وفي

سَبقٍ فنعمَ المطلَبُ المنشودُ

Or blond as lightning in his face and pace

Well sought the youth whom fortune deigns to grace