خِلَّيَّ لا تبعداني

عن العيون الرواني

Oh my two companions, do not keep me away

From the pleasant eyes,

وعاطياني الحميّا

على وجوه الحسان

And give me protection

Against the beautiful faces

إن أقض بالحب نحبي

بين ازدحام القناني

If I am destined to love, I love passionately

Amongst the gathering of friends

نوحا علي وقولا

قضى صريع الغواني

Crying over my state and saying

The lover is slain by his passion

وما له قط ذنبٌ

سوى ابتكار المعاني

He has no fault

Except composing meanings

يصوغها من جنان

كأنه من جمان

Which he creates from the gardens

As if he were from Yemen

لو يعلم الناس قدري

وقيمتي يا زماني

If people knew my worth, oh my time

They would esteem and honor my poetry

هاموا وساموا بشعري

قدامةً وابن هاني

Like Qadama and Ibn Hani

And would greet the one who tends to

وسالموا من يراعي ال

مضلَّع الهندواني

The intricate beauty

And if Layla's eyes saw

ولو رأت عين ليلى

تغزلي وافتناني

My flirtation and infatuation

She would say, if only my God

قالت ألا ليت ربي

بمثل هذا حباني

Had given me the likes of this love

So my living in love became pleasant

فطاب في الحب عيشي

على نحيب المثاني

To the wailing of the musical instrument

So this one is the first of all people

فأول الناس هذا

وقيس في الحب ثاني

And Qays is second in love