أَلا بأَبي زائِرِي في العتَمْ

بوجْهٍ يُجلِّي سَواد الظُّلَمْ

Oh, my dear friend came to me in the dark night

With a face that dispels the blackness of gloom

تَكَتَّم باللَّيْلِ في ظِلِّهِ

وهل يُمْكِنُ الصُّبْحُ أَن يُكتَتَمْ

He snuck in the night under its cover

And can the dawn ever be concealed?

أَتى يسْتَجِيرُ أَلِيفاً له

كما جاوب البانُ رطب العنَمْ

He came seeking refuge, a friend of his

As the wild olive answers the ripe fruit

وقد رقَّ مَا وَرْدُ تلك الخُدُودِ

بما سال مِن مِسْك تِلْكَ اللِّمَمْ

The roses of those cheeks have been softened

By the musk dripping from those pretty lips

وكانَ يُحمْحِمُ تَحْتَ العِذارِ

كحمْحمةِ الخَيْلِ تَحْتَ اللُّجمْ

And he was murmuring under the veil

Like the neighing of horses under the bridle

فقُلْتُ مَنِ الزَّائِرِي والدُّجى

يَسُدُّ العُيُونَ بِثَوْبٍ أَحمّ

So I said who's this visitor in the dark

That covers eyes with a garment, so obscure?

فقالَ أَبُو جَعْفَرٍ لائِمٌ

بما جِئْتَ مِن كَذِبٍ يُنْتَظَمْ

Abu Ja'far blamed me

For the lies I came up with, so naïve

فأَيْقَنْتُ أَنَّ أَبا خالِدٍ

سَرى وخيالَ حَبِيبي أَلَمّ

I knew for certain that Abu Khalid

Was the fantasy and dreams of my love, so dear

فأَبْصرْتُ وجْهاً حكاهُ الهِلال

وثغراً حكى الدُّرّ لمّا ابْتَسمْ

I saw a face like the crescent moon

And lips like pearls when they smile

وإِلا فَعفْوٌ يُقِيلُ العِثار

فذُو العرْشِ يَرْحمُ مَن قد رحِمْ

Otherwise, forgiveness overlooks mistakes

For the Lord of the Throne has mercy on those He loves

فقالَ بلِ العفُو ياسيّدِي

وقَبَّلَني مِن بَعِيدٍ وضَمّ

He said: But forgiveness, my master

And kissed me from afar and embraced

فبِتُّ على بردِ طِيبِ الرّضا

أُسرُّ بلَيْلِي وإِنْ لم أَنَمْ

I spent the night happy with sweet acceptance

Delighted with my night, even without sleep

وقُلْتُ ابْنَ زَيْدُونَ لا كُنْتَ لِي

بِخَالٍ ولا كُنْتَ لِي بابْن عَمّ

And I said: Son of Zaydun, you weren't to me

A maternal uncle, nor a cousin

خَبيثٌ سَعى بَيْنَنا بالنَّمِيم

وقَطَّعَ خُلَّتنَا بالجلَمْ

An evil man who sowed discord with gossip

And severed our friendship with wounding words