عَشِقتُ العُلا لا أَبتغي بَدَلاً لها

ولا عوضاً والعاشقون ضروبُ

I fell in love with the heights, desiring no substitute,

Nor compensation, though lovers are of different kinds.

فَما لي بِغَيرِ المأثُرَات صَبابةٌ

وما لِيَ إلّا المَأثراتُ حبيبُ

I care not for the common sort, youths of no merit;

I care only for the outstanding, who are my beloved.

وَأَخطأتُ لمّا أن جَعلتكَ صاحِبي

وَذو الحَزمِ يُخطِي مرّةً ويصيبُ

I erred when I made you my companion,

Though the wise err once, as well as hit the mark.

وَأَنتَ بَعيدٌ مِن مَكانِ مَودّتي

وَإِنَّ مَزاراً بَينَنا لَقَريبُ

You are far from the place of my affection,

Though between us there lies an easy road.

وَما هيَ إلّا زَلّةٌ أنَا بَعدها

أَعوجُ عَلَيها نادِماً فَأَتوبُ

It was but a slip, and after it I walk bent over,

Regretful and repentant, turning myself right.

فَيا مَنْ لِعَينِي كلَّ يومٍ وليلةٍ

قَذاةٌ بِها أَو لِلفُؤادِ كروبُ

O you, who are, to my eyes each day and night,

Either a mote, or else grief to my heart!

وَلَولاهُ ما كانَت لِدَهري جِنايَةٌ

عَليَّ وَلا منه إليّ ذنوبُ

But for you, Time would have against me no cause for blame,

No guilt for which from Time I would earn rebuke.

وَلا مَزّقتْ جلدي الغداة أظافرٌ

وَلا خَرَقْتهُ للزّمان نيوبُ

No claws in the dawn would tear my skin,

No fangs of Time gouge me in their jaws.

أَجبْتُك لَمّا أَن دَعوتَ اِغترارةً

وهيهات أُدعى بعدها فأُجيبُ

I answered you when you called out foolishly,

But after that, alas! I will not so respond.