مَنْ عاذِرُ المُشْتاقِ منْ عاذِلٍ

في حُبِّ ظَبْيٍ أشْنَبٍ ألعَسِ

Who can blame the lover for his longing

For the love of a fawn-like, slender beauty?

قالَ بَدا عارِضُهُ فاسْلُهُ

كَيْفَ ورَوْضُ الحُسْنِ مِنهُ كُسِي

He said her cheek appeared, so ask her

How the garden of beauty can be concealed?

لَمّا غَدَتْ وجْنَتُهُ جَنَّةً

مَحْفُوفَةً بالوَرْدِ والنَّرجِسِ

When her cheeks became a garden,

Surrounded by roses and narcissi,

وجالَ فِيها رِيقُهُ كوْثَراً

أكْملَها الرَّحْمنُ بالسُّنْدُسِ

And his saliva flowed in it copiously,

Completed by the Merciful with lilies.

فكيفَ لا أبْغِي خُلُوداً بِها

والخُلْدُ أقْصَى مُبْتَغى الأنفُسِ

How can I not seek eternity with it?

For eternity is the utmost desire of souls.