لام العَذولُ على هواهُ وفنَّدا

فأَعاد باللومِ الغرامَ كما بَدَا

The blame is not on the one lost in love's passion,

Repeating his love as it appeared at first.

رَشأٌ قدِ اتخذَ الضلوعَ كناسَه

والقلبَ مَرعى والمدامعَ موردَا

A sickness that has made his ribs its home

And his heart a pasture, his tears a stream.

ثَمِلُ القوامِ اذا بَدَا واذا رَنَا

فَضَحَ الغزالةَ والغزالَ الاغيدَا

Perfect in form when he comes into view

Revealing a gazelle's grace and beauty.

كالوَردِ خَداً والهلالِ تباعداً

والظبى جيداً والقضيب تَأَودَا

Cheeks like a rose, spaced teeth like a new moon's crescent,

A neck like a gazelle's, and a pliant frame.

مترنحُ الاعطافِ من خَمرِ الصِّبا

أَو قَدْ تَراه باللحاظِ معربَدا

Swaying in drunkenness from the wine of youth,

Or you may see him downcast and frowning.

أَيقنت أَنَّ من المُدامةِ ريقه

لما بدا دُرُّ الحَبَابِ مُنَضَّدَا

I knew his saliva was of wine

When I saw his pearly teeth displayed.

وعلمتُ أَنَّ من الحديدِ فؤادَه

لما انتضى من مقلتيهِ مُهَنَّدا

And I knew his heart was made of iron

When I saw it flashing from his eyelids.

سيفٌ ترقرقَ في شَباه فِنْدُهُ

مالى بغير جوانحى أَنْ يُغمدَا

A sword glistening brightly in his young manhood,

Why should it be sheathed if not in my wings?

من منصفى من جَورهِ فلقد غدا

مَدْمي وسيفُ لحاظهِ متقلدَا

Who will defend me from his tyranny?

He has wounded me and carries a naked sword.

زَرقَ الأسنةَ في الرماحِ فلم أرَ

في رمحِ قامتهِ سناناً أَسودَا

He has dyed the spearheads in blood, and I have not seen

On the tall spear of his form a blunted tip.

آنستُ من وجدى بجانبِ خدهِ

ناراً ولكنْ ما وجدتُ بها هُدَى

I sensed from the fire burning in his cheek

A flame, but found in it no guidance.

متوردُ الوجناتِ ماءُ جبينهِ

الاّ ارتدى ثوبَ الحياءِ مُوَرَّدَا

The water of his brow beading in sweat

Unless modesty clothes him in a cloak.