عرفتُ بعَرفِ الرّيح أينَ تيمموا

وأينَ استقلَ الظاعنونَ وَخيّموا

I knew from the fragrance of the wind where they prostrated,

And where the slanderers mounted and pitched their tents.

خَليلَيّ ردّاني إلى جانبِ الحمى

فلستُ إلى غير الحمى أتيممُ

My beloveds have brought me back to the side of fever,

So I do not aspire except to fever.

أبيتُ سميرَ الفرقدينِ كأنّما

وسادي قُتادٌ أو ضجيعيِّ أرقمُ

I spent the night with the two bright stars as though

My pillow were Canopus or my bedfellow Rigel.

وأحورَ وَسنانِ الجفونِ كأنّه

قَضيبٌ من الرِّيحانِ لدنٌ مُنعّمُ

And Ahwar's eyes and eyelashes as though they were

A moist, softened stick of basil.

نظرتُ إلى أجفانه وإلى الهوى

فأيقنتُ أنّي منهُنّ أسلمُ

I looked at his eyelids and at love itself,

And I was certain that through them I would be kept safe.

كما أنّ إبراهيمَ أوّلَ نظرةٍ

رأى في الدراري أنّهُ سمينٌ يَسقمُ

Just as Abraham at first glance

Saw in the sacrifice that he was plump and would make him ill.