أَقول لِفاتنٍ طالَ اِفتِتاني

بِطَلعته وَأَعجبه اِفتِناني

I say to a charmer whose charm long enthralled me

with his looks and his beauty entranced me

وَسُرَّ بِبُعده عَني رَقيبٌ

سَفيهٌ لَيسَ يَرغَب في التَداني

while the ignorant rejoiced in keeping him from me

a fool with no desire for intimacy

وَعلّمه التجني وَالتَجافي

فَأَصبَح جاهِلاً في الحُب شاني

He taught him to shun and keep his distance

so he became an ignoramus in love destroyed

وَكَم مِن مَوعد أَمّلتُ مِنهُ

فَلَم يَسمَح بِتَبليغ الأَماني

How many meetings did I hope for

but he would not allow my wishes conveyed

وَبالغ في الجَفا وَالهجر لَما

بِسَهمِ لحاظِ مُقلته رَماني

And he was extremely aloof and estranged when

my languishing glance's arrow struck me

وَتاه عَلى الملاح بِوَردِ خَدٍّ

وَقَدٍّ لا يُقاس بِغُصن بان

He was lost in the beauty of a soft cheek

and a slender shape like no branch of narcissus

وَأَصمى مُهجة المَفتون ظلماً

بِعادل قامةٍ كَالخيزران

He unjustly deafened the ears of the infatuated one

with a figure as straight as a reed

أَأَطمَع مِنكَ في وَعد بوصلٍ

وَدينُك مطلُ صبٍّ غَير جاني

Should I hope for a promise of union from you

when your religion is endless pouring rain ungathered

أَما وَهَواك مالي عَنكَ صَبرٌ

وَكَيفَ الصَبرُ عَنكَ أَو التَواني

As for your love, how can I have patience from you

and how can there be patience from you or even procrastination

فَتِه وَاهجر وصُدَّ فَلَستُ أَسلو

وَلَو جرّعتَني كَأس الهَوان

So shun, be estranged, and turn away But I will not complain

even if you make me drink the cup of humiliation

وَلَكن لا تمل عَني لِغَيري

فَغَيري لِلصَبابة لا يُعاني

But do not tire for another's sake

for another cannot endure my passion

وَما لي في غَرامي مِن شَريك

وَما لك يا رَشا في الحُسن ثاني

And I have no partner in my passion

and you, Rasha, have no equal in beauty

وَما لي ما ينفّس بَعضَ كَربي

سِوى دَمع كَلَون الأرجوان

And I have nothing to relieve some of my sorrow

except tears the color of dark red rose

وَقَد جرّبتني فَرَأَيت مِني

لَبيباً فيكَ قَد أَلف المَعاني

And you have tried me and seen in me

an intelligent lover who knows the meanings

فَهَل مِن زَورة في جنح لَيل

تَسُرُّ بِسَعد طالَعها جِناني

Is there then a moment in the darkness of night

that makes happy the one its good fortune befriends?

وَهَل مِن لَحظة فيها عذولي

يَمَوتُ بِغَيظه وَقتَ التَهاني

Is there a glance in which my lover

dies of anger at the time of joy?

هُنالك لا أَقول مَضى شَبابي

هَباء في التَولُّع بِالحسان

There I will not say my youth has passed

like vapor confused by beauty

وَأُوقف في سَبيل اللَهو قَلبي

عَليكَ أَطاع أَمري أَو عَصاني

And I will stop my heart for pleasure's sake

whether it obeys or disobeys me

فَكُفَّ الآن عَن هَذا التَجافي

فَلستَ مِن الحَوادث في أَمان

So stop this aloofness now

for you are not safe from accidents

وَها أَنا قَد نَصَحتك فَاتخذني

خَليلاً وَاقتصر عَن كُل شاني

And here I have advised you, so take me

as a friend, and stop pursuing anyone who bears enmity

فَما غَيري يَدُوم عَلى غَرام

وَكُلُّ الحُسن يا مَياس فاني

For no one endures passion like me

and all beauty, Myas, is fleeting