صَبَغَتْهُ صِبْغَةَ الحَدَقِ

خِلْقَةٌ مِنْ أَحْسَن الخِلقِ

His complexion was colored the hue of kohl,

A creation of the most beautiful physique.

فَهْوَ كالكُحْلِ المُمَكَّنِ مِن

وَجْنةٍ مُحْمَرَّةٍ يَقَقِ

Like kohl smoothed into perfection

In a flushed cheek showing its sleek.

غُصُنٌ غَضٌّ بلا ورقٍ

في كثِيبٍ غير مفترِقِ

A sapling, tender, without leaves,

In a mound not separated or peaked.

وكفاني أن مَبْسِمَهُ

فَلَقٌ قد لاح من غَسَق

And enough for me was his smile

Appearing suddenly from the dusk.

بابليّ الطَّرفِ في دَعَج

لُؤْلُئِيّ الثَّغْرِ في نَسَقِ

Babylonian in glance, in a wind-blown lock,

Pearl-like of mouth in an arrangement unique.

إن يكن في خَلْقِه حَلَك

فهو فيه أَبْيَضُ الخُلُقِ

If there be any flaw in his creation,

It is that his manners are most meek.

سكنتْ ألحاظُه فرمت

قلبَ مَن يهواه بالقَلَقِ

His glances stilled me, so I tossed

The heart of one passionately obsessed.

طاف يَسْقِينيِ مُشَعْشَعَةً

صاغ فيها الماءُ كالحَلَقِ

He came watering around me persistently

In it the water flowed circle-linked.

فكانَّ الليل راحتُه

وكأّنَّ الراحَ مِنْ شفَق

So his eve was restfulness for me

As if the stillness was from the glow of dusk.