أحسبت غرب العين حين طغى

دمعاً وحين نزفته فرغا

When tears overflowed from the corner of my eye

And when it bled, emptying out,

فكأن برق الثغر ينشئه

غيثا اغام بمقلتي ورغا

It was as though the flash of my smile was creating

A pouring cloud over my eyelashes that sobbed and complained

امشعشع الخدِّ الأسيل ادر

بالكاس خداً منك قد بزغا

O you whose glowing cheek is illuminated, pass along

The cup, a cheek from you has shone

من عندم لم ادر صبغته

ام من دم العشاق قد صبغا

I did not know whether its hue

Was from me or from the blood of lovers it was dyed

واغنَّ لم يسرح بغزلته

ناغيته بكناسه فنغا

And the one who did not let his love poem roam freely

I lulled his she-camel with my crooning, so it grumbled

قد قادني غزلا ويا عجبا

لغزيل قد قاد ليث وغى

Love poetry led me, and what a wonder!

For a love poem led a fierce lion and it roared

ومجمجمٍ باللفظ عن خجل

فكأن فاه اراكة مضغا

And tongue-tied from shyness

It was as though its mouth was stitched closed

ان لاح ملء الطرف تحسبه

طرفا اغر محجلا رسغا

If the filled gaze appeared, you'd think it

A blinking eye, kohl-lined and fast asleep

اودبّ منه الصدغ عقوبه

لسبت فأرقم فرعه لدغا

Or a muscle in the temple twitching, a punishment

For I cursed, so its branch stung me

يا معجما بالنطق عن غرض

اخرست من هو مخرس البلغا

O tongue-tied from the intention

You made me silent, though you are the most eloquent

غادرتني اثغو بمسبعةٍ

كالسيف جفَّ لبانة فثغا

You left me grasping with outstretched hand

Like a sword, its scabbard empty, unsheathed

وغزيل بالبان عن له

معشوشب في روضة فرغا

While the love poem, about the one I love

Is settled in a meadow, empty

فاوضته العتبى وفاوضني

حتى بفيض دموعهِ نشغا

I reproached him and he reproached me

Until with the outpouring of his tears, he gurgled

ما ضرَّ من سبغ الجمال لنا

لو أنه بجميله سبغا

It would not hurt us if beauty was daubed on us

If only with his beauty he would daub!

امبلغ العلياء بغيتها

بلغ العلى بعلاك ما بلغا

Convey her desire to the exalted ones

Convey to the Most High your ascent, as high as it ascended

كنَّا قديماً خير آنيةٍ

فمن الذي بأنائنا ولغا

We were once the best vessels

So who corrupted our vessels and emptied them?

فكأن دون الناس كلهم

بيني وبينك ماردٌ نزغا

It was as though, apart from all people,

There was a jinn between me and you that provoked

ابغي الرضا بالسخط آونة

فاراه بالعدوى عليَّ بغا

I want satisfaction with anger for a while

For I see him responding to me with aggression

لن يصلحنَّ السيف صيقله

الا ترقرق جوهراً وطغا

The sword will only be fixed by its polishing

If its essence trembles and pours out

سأسوس فيه خليقة صبعت

والجلد يصلح كلما دبغا

I will establish in it a nature my fingers have fashioned

And the skin improves each time it is tanned