دعوتُه لِوصالي فانَثَنى خجِلاً

واعتّل عِلَّةَ من لا يَعرِف العِللاَ

I invited him to meet me, but he declined shyly

Pretending illness, though the healthy feign no illness

خاف الرقيبَ فقالت عَيْنُه نَعَماً

ثم اْلتَوَى لفظُه عن مُقْلَتَيه بلاَ

Fearing the spy, his eyes said yes

Then his words faltered and stammered without saying no

يا حَّبذا عينُه بالوعدِ مُسْعِفةً

وحبَّذا لفظُه بالمنعِ مُبْتَهِلا

Blessed are his eyes that consent with a promise

And blessed his words that refuse with entreaty

أشكو إليه فَتَرْثي لي لواحظُه

حتّى بدا الدمعُ من عينيه مُنْهمِلا

I complain to him, so his glances grieve for me

Till tears started flowing from his eyes

كذا القلوبُ إذا رقَّتْ فآيَتُها

أَنْ تُضعِف اللفظَ أو أن تُحدِثَ الخَجَلا

Thus are hearts when they're tender, their signs:

To weaken speech, or cause shyness and confusion

فَدَيْتُ من لَم يَزلْ إِن لاحَ شَمْسَ ضُحىً

وَصَيَّرَ الغصنَ قَدّاً والنقا كَفَلا

My life for one who remains as dawn sunshine

Turning branches to amber and acacia to honey

رَمَى الرقيبَ بعينَيه فأسكَرَه

عنّا ولم نَخْشَ تَنْغيصا ولا وجَلا

He shot the spy with his eyes till he clouded his mind

Leaving us with no fear of poisoning or dread