مُذ عَلا وَردُ خَدّه كَعِذار

قيلَ هَذا هوَ العِذارُ الشّريفُ

When the rose of his cheek rose like beard-down,

it was said, “This is genuine beard-down.”

قُلتُ مَهلاً فَلَيسَ ذا بِعذار

بَل بخارٌ مِنَ الورودِ ظَريفُ

I said, “Gently—this is no beard-down,

but virginal vapor from the rose:

إِذ لَظى وَجنَتيهِ بِالوَردِ شَبَّت

فَعَلاهُ هَذا البخارُ اللّطيفُ

for the blaze of his two cheeks had flared with roses,

and over that blaze rose this delicate vapor.”