بانَت سُعادُ وَأَمسى القَلبُ مُشتاقاً

وَأَقلَقَتها نَوى الأَزماعِ إِقلاقا

Happiness appeared and the heart became longing

And the intentions of time disturbed it with anxiety

وَهاجَ بِالبَينِ مِنها مِهجَسٌ فَجِعٌ

قَد كانَ قِدماً بِفَجعِ البَينِ نَعّاقا

A passionate grief for being apart from her was kindled

It had long been accustomed to the grief of separation

أَضحَت مَنازِلُها بِالقاعِ دارِسَةً

إِلّا نُئِيّاً كَوَشمِ الجَفنِ أَخلاقا

Her dwellings in the land became desolate

Except for traces like the kohl of eyelids

أَدنى الإِماءُ جِمالاتٍ قُراسِيَةً

كومَ الذُرى مُوَّرُ الأَعضادِ أَفناقا

The prettiest slave-girls were brought near

Like the heaped up ashes, flexing thighs

أَنّى أُتيحَ لَها حِرباءُ تَنضُبَةٍ

لا يُرسِلُ الساقَ إِلّا مُمسِكاً ساقا

How did she allow herself to be possessed

By a love that only held back to resist