تَدَّعي الشَوقَ إِن نَأَت

وَتَجَنّى إِذا دَنَت

She professes longing when she keeps away,

and acts cruelly when she draws near.

واعَدَتنا وَأَخلَفَت

فَأَساءَت وَأَحسَنَت

She made us a promise, then broke it;

thus she did ill—and did well.

سَرَّني لَو صَبَرتُ عَن

ها فَتُجزى بِما جَنَت

It would delight me if I could hold myself back from

her, so she might be repaid for what she has done.

إِنَّ سَلمى لَو اِتَّقَت

رَبَّها فِيَّ أَنجَزَت

Indeed, if Salma had feared

her Lord concerning me, she would have kept her word.

زَرَعَت في الحَشا الهَوى

وَسَقَتهُ حَتّى نَبَت

She planted passion in the heart’s core

and watered it until it sprouted.