كَأنّ الوردَ في ورقٍ وزهرٍ

خدودُ معذّر عضّت بثغرِ

As if the rose in leaf and blossom

Were the blushing cheeks of one who has excused herself, bitten by a mouth

أَوِ الصهباءُ قبّلها فآلَت

بِبرد رُضابهِ أَن ليس تجري

Or the blonde has kissed her and turned

Her cool satisfaction not to flow on

فَصارَ يعضُّ جامدها بثغرٍ

حَوى الضدّينِ مِن برد وجمرِ

So it bites her frozen with a mouth

Containing the opposites of coolness and embers

إِلى أَن لاحَ في خدّيه رشحٌ

حَكى الإثنين مِن ثغرٍ وخمرِ

Until moisture appeared on his cheeks

Relaying the two states of mouth and wine

فَشقّق جيبَ ثوبٍ سندسيٍّ

وَحلّل تحتهُ أزرار درِّ

So he tore the pocket of a silken robe

And loosened beneath it buttons of pearl

وَقال شموا المرائرَ كيفَ شقّت

عَلى وردِ النهودِ وزهرِ زرّي

And said, “Smell the fold as it has ripped

Upon the rose of arched breasts and blossoming buttons

ترَوا درّاً يحفّ به عقيقٌ

بِكأسِ زَبرجدٍ في صحن صدري

See the pearls surrounding a pearl

In a cup of aquamarine in the platter of my chest