كأنما الخال بين الحاجبين فتىً

يستحسنُ الخطَّ مفتونٌ بنونينِ

As if the mole between the eyebrows were a youth

Who finds the writing beautiful, infatuated with two N's

أو فارس من ملوك الزنج مقتدرٌ

يرمي بقوسين أو يدمي بسيفينِ

Or a powerful king of the Zinj rulers

Who shoots with two bows or makes bloody with two swords

أو طائرٌ جارحٌ يهوي على شركٍ

يهواه كل مشوق طامح العين

Or a bird of prey swooping down on its prey

Which every admiring and ambitious one desires

رآه يسحب قلبي بالهوى فهوى

ليخطف القلب مني بالجناحين

He saw him pulling my heart with passion, so he swooped down

To snatch the heart from me with his wings