أْعْدَدتُ للتَبْغِ وترشافه

نَبْعةَ حُسْنٍ كُلِلَتْ بالجُمَانْ

For tobacco, and to draw it in, I prepared

a beautiful nabʿ-wood stem, crowned with pearls.

ما قَصَباتُ السَبْقِ إِلاّ لَها

في حَلْبَةٍ حَلَّتْ محلَّ السِنانْ

The victor’s canes are hers alone,

in a racecourse where she took the spearpoint’s place.

قد زُخْرِفَتْ من بعدِ ترصيعها

دلائِلُ الزُخْرفِ إِلاّ الدخانْ

Once it had been inlaid, embellished were

the signs of adornment—all but the smoke.