صنيعته التصنُّع في ودادي

فيا بئس التصنع والصنيعه

His affection was feigned in my love for him,

How wretched is feigned affection and craft!

أنازع في هواه القلب حتى

نزعت هواه من قلبي جميعه

My heart contested his love until

I wrested his love completely from my heart.

فلا تتوقعنَّ له رجوعي

احال السهم منبعثا رجوعه

So do not expect me to return to him,

The arrow once unleashed cannot be returned.

كفيت هوى يثقف من ضلوعي

لو انّ هوىً يقصِّف لي ضلوعه

I have had enough of a love that wounds my ribs,

Even if love would cleave my ribs in two for me.

اذا ما النفس ولَّهها ولوع

فلي نفسٌ وان ولهت جزوعه

If the soul inclines toward him though distressed,

I have a soul that, though distressed, restrains its inclinations.

فبينا تنحني للألف رفقا

اذا انحازت لطيتها قطوعه

So while it inclines gently toward intimacy,

When it turns away, I make it pliant with firmness.

فلا قد قلت للأيام عودي

وان عادت فعين او طليعه

For I have said to the nights, "Farewell!"

And if they return, with glance or vanguard,

لياليَ في السما حتى سهاها

رقيب كرىً يصانعني خديعه

Nights in the sky that a vigilant spy

Deceives me into receiving from him.

لعلك ضارب بعلاة سفر

فتوردها السماوة بي سريعه

Perhaps you are heading out on a journey

And the heavens will quickly bring you to me.

إذا انتشرت فروع الليل سودا

طوت عن منكبيه بنا فروعه

When the black branches of night spread out,

They folded over my shoulders and branches.

أو اشتملت بشملته استمرَّت

بتدآب السرى فنضت هزيعه

Or it gathered in its garment and continued

Advancing gently, trailing its train.

يجاذبها الأعنة مشمعلٌّ

فتأرن وهي جانحة شموعه

The Pleiades wrestle with it, glowing,

And it moans, leaning its lights.

فتبلغ طاهر الاعراق اني

على كره رددت لهُ الوديعه

It reaches the pure bosoms until I

Reluctantly returned the trust to him.