فديتُ من الناس من لحظه

بلا خنجرٍ كاد أن يجرحا

I would ransom with my soul anyone whose glance,

without a dagger, almost wounded me.

كتمت هواه زمان الصبا

وصرحت بالحب لما التحى

I concealed my passion in the days of youth,

and declared my love when we met.

وقيل محا الشعر لما بدا

محاسنه منه واستقبحا

It was said, "His poetry faded when his virtues appeared

and were considered ugly."

فقلت لهم ما محا حسنه

ولكن صبري عنه محا

So I said to them, "His beauty has not faded,

but my patience with him has faded."

بنفسي عذارٌ بدا طالعاً

على ناضر الورد ما أملحا

With my soul I am a fresh, blooming branch

upon vibrant, rosy flowers.

فصير في رزةٍ أصبعي

وأوثق كفي تحت الرحى

So place my fingers in fetters

and bind my hands beneath the mill.