زعموا الغزال حكاه قلت لهم نعم

في صده عن عاشقيه وهجره

They claimed the gazelle resembled him. I told them, “Yes—”

in turning away from his lovers and forsaking them.”

قالوا الهلال شبيهه فأجبتهم

إن كان قيس إلى قلامة ظفره

They said, “The crescent moon is his likeness.” I replied:

“Only if it were measured against a paring of his fingernail.”

وكذا يقولون المدام كريقه

يا رب لا علموا مذاقة ثغره

And likewise they say that wine is like his saliva—

O Lord, may they never know the taste of his lips!