بي غزال كم أصابت

مُقلتاه من نفر

With what aim have his eyes struck me

My heart has been repelled by his aloofness

صاد قلبي بالتَّثني

وانثنى عنّي نفر

My heart bent in anguish

And he turned away from me in disdain

إن سطا بي فهو ليث

أو رنا لي فغزال

If he is friendly he's a lion

If he sings he's a gazelle

أو تثنّى فقضيب

أو تبدّى فقمر

If he's coy he's a twig

If he appears he's the moon

فاق ظبياً في كناس

وغصوناً في رياض

He surpassed a gazelle in a meadow

And branches in gardens

بعيون وقوام

إن رنا لي أو خطر

With eyes and figure

Whether he sings to me or ghosts by

نرجس الأحداق منه

لاح في ورد الخدود

The narcissus of his eyes shone

Lighting up the roses of his cheeks

بضيا وجه كبدر

سار في ليل الشعر

A face like the full moon

Walking in the night of his hair

كم نأى عني دلالا

عابثاً بي في الهوى

How he has distanced himself from me

Toying with me in passion

عالماً أن التجنّي

منه عندي مغتفر

Knowing that my submission

Is with me something forgiven

إن أقم عُذري لديه

ليس يرضى باعتذاري

If I offer my excuses to him

He is not pleased with my apology

وهو مرضيٌّ إذا ما

قد أسا ثم اعتذر

And he is most pleased when

I have erred then apologized