سَل عن دَمي ليلى إِذا هي أَقبلَت

بَينَ النِّساءِ وَخَدُّها كالعندمِ

Ask about my blood, O Laila, when she comes

Among the women, her cheek like andem wood.

ومَتى أَبَت إِلاَّ الجُحودَ وأَنكرت

فانظر على وجَناتهِا أَثَر الدَّمِ

And if she denies and rejects, then look

Upon her cheeks for traces of my blood.

يا لَلرِّجالِ وإِنها لَعَجيبَةٌ

مَا مِثلُها أبداً أَليَّةَ مُقسِم

O men, she is indeed a wonder -

None like her, ever, I solemnly swear.

أَخشَى قناةَ قوامِها وَمقَاتِلي

غَرَضٌ لِما في لَحظِها مُقسِمِ

I fear her slender waist and her warriors -

My goal is what is in her eyes, I swear.

وأَهابُ عَقربَ صُدغِهَا ويدي على

ما أَرسلَت من شَعرِها من أَرقَمِ

And I fear the scorpion of her temple, and my hand is on

What she sends forth of her hair like arrows.

ما ذاكَ من سَفَهٍ ولكن لا هوىً

ما لَم يَذر رَبَّ البصيرةِ كالعَمِي

This is not folly, but love -

One whom the Lord of foresight left blind.

ومُعنِّفي جَهلاً على عِشقي لها

أَذكى بِمر العَذلِ نارَ تألُّمي

And they blame me in ignorance for my love of her -

More sharply stoking the fire of my agony.

ناديتهُ قِسها إِلى شمسِ الضُّحى

حُسناً فَإِن هيَ لم تَزد نُوراً لُمِ

I called to him, "Compare her to the sun at dawn -

In beauty, though she grows no brighter, I swear."