مَا كنتُ أعرفُ مَا الهَوى حتى َاتى

وطغى عَلَىَّ وللِهَوَى طُغيانُ

I had not known what passion was until it came

And overwhelmed me, for passion is tyrannical

وبُليتُ بِالشَّاوي وزَادَ بَلِيَّتي

ذاكَ القَوامُ وطَرفُهُ الوَسنانُ

And I was afflicted by one with a slender figure, whose glances

Increased my affliction

إنَّ المُحِبَّ إذا تَعاظَمَ وَجدُهُ

هانَ الصُّدودُ عَلَيهِ والهِجرَانُ

When the lover grows mighty, he finds

Reproaches and estrangement easy to bear

لا أَشتَكِي منه الصُّدودَ وإن يَكُن

بِالصَّدِّ تُذكى لِلهوى نِيرَانُ

I do not complain of his estrangement, even though

With estrangement, passion's fires are kindled

مَا حِيلتي يَا قَوم فِي حُبِّي له

ذَنبي لَديهِ مَا له غُفرَانُ

What can I do, O people, about my love for him?

My sin against him is one that cannot be forgiven

لي فَانصَحُوا لكن بغَيرِ سُلُوِّهِ

ذِهنُ اللَّبيبِ عنِ المُحَالِ يُصَانُ

So advise me, but without trying to dissuade me from him

The mind of the wise should be guarded against the impossible