فتنَ الروح بسحر الحدق

أغيد قد فاق بدر الأفق

The spirit was captivated by the magic of the glance,

Singing, it surpassed the full moon on the horizon,

وسطا بالقدّ في عشاقه

فتلاشى ما بهم من رمق

Walking proudly among his lovers,

So their vigor faded away.

لاح والزّمط على جبهته

خِلته بدراً بدا في الشفق

Lightning flashed on his forehead,

His beauty seemed a full moon rising at dusk.

ثم نحّى الزمط عن طرّته

قلت بل بدر سرى في الغسق

Then the lightning receded from his face,

I said no, but a full moon set into the darkness.

أطلق الصّب أسيراً فاعجَبَن

لأسير في التصابي مطلق

He unleashed captivity like a captive, so I was astonished -

A captive amidst hugs is set free.

لان قداً وكذا قلباً فذا

فاق في خَلق وذا في خُلُق

He has a tall stature and likewise a heart, superior

In creation and in manners.

وهو مع ذلك يسطو صَلَفاً

قطّ بالعُشّاق لم يرتفق

Yet with that he walks with arrogance,

Never gentle with lovers.

كلما رُمتُ عناقاً قال لي

فيه إثم قلت ذا في عُنقي

Whenever I tried to embrace him, he would say:

“There is sin in this.” I said “It is around my neck.”

بإله الناس قد عوّذته

في البرايا وبربّ الفلق

By the God of mankind I have protected him

In the wild and by the Lord of the dawn.