روحي الفِداء لِمَنْ إذا آلمتُهُ

عتْباً تفضَّض خدُّهُ وتَذَهَّبا

My soul is a ransom for one who, if I hurt him

Reproachfully, his cheek melts and crumbles away.

وتوقَّدَتْ في الرَّوْضِ من وَجنَاتِهِ

نارُ الحياءِ يشبُّها ماءُ الصِّبَا

And in the garden the fires of shyness are kindled

By the water of youth, flames fanned by the breeze’s play.

خَطَّتْ سَوالِفُهُ عَلَيها رُقيةً

لَمّا تَثَعْبَنَ صُدْغُهُ وتَعَقْرَبَا

His conversation sketched gently over it

Solace, when his cheek grew hot and his neck gave way.

عَذْبُ المُقَبَّل إنْ تَحَدَّثَ أسكَرَتْ

أَلفاظُهُ وَإِذا تَنَفَّسَ أَطْرَبا

Sweet when he speaks, his words intoxicate me;

When he but breathes, rapture steals my wits away.

مُتَغَضِّبٌ دَلّاً فَلَستُ بمُدْرِكٍ

مِنهُ الرِّضا إِلّا بأَنْ أَتَغضَّبا

Angry, he is a charmer; I cannot win

His favor but by making him yet more angry.