لم أنس يا عثمان عثمانيةً

خرجت تغازلني من الحمّامِ

I have not forgotten, Othman, the Othmania

Who came out to flirt with me from the baths

ولثامها كاللازورد وتحته

شفقٌ كوردِ اللاذقية نامي

Her veil was like lapis-lazuli and beneath it

A rosy glow like the coast of Latakia slept

تمشي ويلتمع اللثام بنورها

فتخالها برزت بغير لثام

She walks and her veil shines with her light

You'd think she emerged without a veil

قالت وقد غازلتها أتريدني

والناس من خلفي ومن قدامي

She said, though people behind and before me flirted

Do you want me?

ودنت تشير بكمها لمكانها

فلثمت منها الورد في الأكمام

She came near gesturing with her sleeve to her place

So I kissed the roses in her sleeves

وتبعتُها حتى حظيت بساعةٍ

أيقنتُها حلماً من الأحلام

And I followed her until I enjoyed an hour

I was certain it was a dream of dreams