ما كنتُ أولَ مُغرمِ مغرورِ
بأغنَّ سحَّارِ اللِّحاظِ غريرِ
I was not the first infatuated fool
Bewitched by the alluring charms of a beautiful gaze,
يفترُّ مُبتسماً وأبكي فاعتجب
للؤلُؤِ المنظومِ والَمنثورِ
Who smiles coyly while I weep in wonder
At pearls both strung and scattered.
رَشأُ يُريكَ إذا تجلَّى وانثَنى
قَمَراً على غُصنٍ من البَلُّورِ
His cheek blossoms as he turns to you
Revealing a moon on a bough of crystal,
الثَّغرُ منه وخدُّه وجبينُه
للنَّورِ بل للنَّارِ بل للنُّورِ
His lips, cheek, and brow shine
With light - nay, with fire - nay, with light!
أغنتهُ عن حملِ السِّلاحِ لواحظٌ
طَبعَ القُيونُ لها سُيوفَ فُتورٍ
His alluring glance has spared him from bearing arms -
His eyes by nature sheathe languorous swords.
لم ينتصر وهوَ الُمحاربُ دهرَهُ
إلاَّ بِذابلِ جَفنِه المكسورِ
In his lifelong battle he was not victorious
Save by the fallen eyelid and broken lance.
مُتناقضُ الأوصافِ يُعربُ تيهُه
وحَياؤُهُ عن عاجزٍ وقديرِ
Contradictory traits betray his wandering,
And his shyness reveals power and impotence.
بالطرفِ يسحرُ وهو مِن سُكرِ الصبَّا
وخُمارِه في صُورةِ المخمورِ
With his eyes he bewitches, drunk on youth,
His veil portrays the image of the wine-soaked.
لم أدرِ ممَّ يفوحُ لي طِيبُ الشَّذا
فَأَميلُ مَيلَ الُمنتشي الَمسرورِ
I know not from whence wafts such sweet fragrance -
Is it his rosy cheek, his mole, or camphor lips?
من خدِّه الورديِّ أو من خالهِ ال
نَدِّي أو من ثَغرهِ الكافوري
O lightning, uncover the tenderness beneath the rough exterior,
And gather the pearls of dew from the coat of the shy gazelle.
يا برقُ حلَّبأبرقِ الحنانش عن
كثَبِ عُرَى جَيبِ الحيا الَمزرُور
Prepare the arrows of charm while the quiver lies open
To adorn the neck of the statuesque and slender one.
وأعِد جُمانَ الطِّلِّ وهوَ مُنضَّدُ
عِقداً لِجيدِ البانةِ الَممطور
When the hills came into view, scenting
An aroma on the horizon like musk dispersed.
وإذ الثنيَّةُ أشرفت وشممت من
أَرجائها أرجاً كنشر عبيرش
Ask of her sloping speech, where is the elevated discourse
Beyond the train of the passing western breeze?
سَل هضبَها المنصوبَ أينَ حديثُها ال
مرفوعُ عن ذيلِ الصبَّا المجرورِ
