يا ذائداً عن قدهِ النَّاضِرِ

بِصارم سُلَّ من النَّاظرِ

O you who turn away from the blossoming youth

With a sword drawn from the observer’s gaze,

وحاميَ الباردِ من ريقهِ

بفاترِ من طَرفهِ الفاترِ

And protect the chill from his saliva

With an apathetic glance from your apathetic eye,

أعرض عن الإِعراضِ واقنع لنا

بساحرٍ من جفنِكَ السَّاحرِ

Turn from rejection and be content for us

With a little magic from your bewitching eyelid,

يكفيكَ ما يُرهفهُ غُنجُه

من كُلِّ عضبٍ فاتكِ باترِ

It is enough what its dimple makes tender

Of every sharp anger, so pass by gently,

عِطفكَ لا يُرجَى له عطفُه

واهاً له من عادلٍ جائرِ

Your kindness is not hoped for its kindness,

Woe to him, from a fair yet unjust one,

أرومُ تأنيسَكَ من ضِلَّةٍ

من ذا رأى ظبياً سِوَى نافرٍ

I want to befriend you from an aberration,

Who has seen a gazelle unless it bolts?

قنعتُ من وصلِكَ بالطَّيفِ إن

زارَ وأينَ الطَّيفُ من ساهرِ

I am content with your phantom if it visits,

And where is the phantom compared to one awake?

وخالُكَ المسكيُّ أم نُقطَةٌ

من عنبرٍ في خَدِّكَ الباهرِ

Is the musky mole on your cheek but a drop

Of ambergris on your shining cheek?