سَلهُ عن وَجدي وعن كَلفي

فهُما عَوناهُ على تلَفي

Ask him about my love and my suffering,

For they both aid me in my demise,

يُوسفيٌّ الحُسنِ مُنفردٌ

كانفرادي فيه بالأَسفِ

Unique is his beauty like Joseph,

As unique as my sorrow for him,

ما لدُرِّ الثَّغرِ منه سِوَى

ذَلكَ الَمرجانِ من صَدَفِ

Nothing rivals his lips but

That coral inside the shell,

هابطٌ حظِّي بهِ وأرَى

أنَّ في عِشقي لهُ شَرَفي

My fortune has declined with him, yet I see

That to love him is an honor for me,

أيُّها البدرُ الذي بَسنا

وَجههِ يجلو دُجا السَّدفِ

O moon whose face dispels

The darkness of the night sky's curtain,

بالذي في الخدِّ مِن ضرَجٍ

والذي في القَدِّ مِن هَيَفِ

With that mole on his cheek

And that bend in his waist,

تِه بِخَصرٍ غيرِ مُختَصَرٍ

وبِعطِفٍ غيرِ مُنعطِفِ

His waist is anything but small

And his body anything but stiff,

وتحكَّم في حَشا وَصِبٍ

مُستَهامٍ مُغرمٍ دَنِفِ

Having mastered the art of allurement

And captivated a passionate lover,

عانقَتهُ فيكَ صَبوَتُه

كاعتناقِ اللاَّمِ للأَلفِ

His youth embraced you

As the letter Alif embraces Lam,

ليسَ في شَرعِ الهوَى أبداً

واجبٌ أنَّ المِلاحَ تفي

It is never a must in the law of passion

That feelings should be mutual,

يا دُموعي إِن سكتُّ أَنا

فَاشرحي أَنتِ الهَوى وصِفي

My tears, if I stay silent

You explain the love and describe it.