أدارت من لواحِظها كُؤوسا

فأَنستنا السُّلافَ الخندَريسا

She turned her cups from her cheeks,

And made us forget the chiselled wine jugs,

وأبدت خَدَّها القَاني فكُنَّا

هناكَ لنارِ وجنتها مَجُوساً

And revealed her rosy cheek, so we became

There, fire worshippers for her cheek's flame.

فلم نرَ قبلَها خوداً شَموعاً

تُديرُ بطَرفِها راحاً شَمُوساً

Never before had we seen candles,

That turn with their eyelids gentle winds.

لِجفنيها اللَّذي فَترا سِهامٌ

لنا منها جراحٌ ليس تُوسى

For her languid eyelids that unleashed arrows,

We have from them wounds that cannot be dressed.

أباحت في الهوى مِنَّا قلوباً

تُساورُ من محبَّتها رَسيسا

She permitted in passion our hearts,

To be afflicted by her love constantly.

فلا واللهِ ما سَلبت عُقولاً

لنا لكنَّها سلبت نُفوسا

No, by God, she did not take our minds,

But she took our souls.

يظنُ الغُصنُ أنَّ لهُ قواماً

رَطيباً عِطفُه حتَّى تَميسا

The branch thinks it has a lasting

Fragrance, until it withers.

كأنَّ الُمجتلي منها جَبيناً

لبدرِ التِّمِّ قد أمسَى جَليسا

As if the one shining from it is a forehead,

For the full moon, it has become a companion.