تمادى الصِّبا بيَ في غيِّهِ

وأسلمني للْهوى لُوّمي

The morning breeze persisted in its folly,

And surrendered me to passion though I resisted.

وراجعتُ لهْوِي ولذَّاته

ونزَّهتُ نفسي عن المَحْرَم

I returned to my passion and its pleasures,

And kept my soul from what is forbidden.

وقال العواتقُ أهلاً بمَنْ

تناهَى إلى الخُلق الأكرم

The maidens said, “Welcome to one

Who has attained the most noble character.”

فكم ليَ فيهنَّ من قاضياتٍ

نذوراً لذاكَ ولمْ أعلم

How many of them were my judges,

Making vows to him, though I knew it not.

وقائلةٍ بين أترابها

أما يتقي الله ذا في دمي

One said among her companions,

“Does he not fear God, with my blood in him?”

ألا ليتَهُ زارَ مُسْتخْفِياً

إذا رقدتْ أعينُ النُّوَّم

Oh, would that he had come to me stealthily

When all eyes were closed in sleep.

فأنقعَ مِنْ قُربهِ غُلَّةً

بقلبيَ من حُبِّهِ الأقدم

So he might have left in my heart

A love for him more enduring than before.

أتتْنِي الرسالةُ عنها بذاك

على منطقٍ ليس بالأعجمي

The message came to me from her, in words

Not confused, but clear in meaning.

فأنْبأْتُها أنَّني حافظ

لأشياخِها ذمَّةَ المُسلم

I told her that I remain true

To the protection owed her elders.

وأوْدعْتُها حسرةً بالعفافِ

ووفرتُ دِيني فلم أثلمِ

And I left her in sorrow for virtue,

While keeping my religion pure, undefiled.

ألا فاسقِني من بناتِ الكُروم

وروِّ بكاساتِها أعْظُمي

Oh come, let me drink from the vines

And be sated by their wine, my best medicine.

على لحن صوتٍ تخيَّرتُهُ

وإلا فلا تُدْنِها مِنْ فَمِي

To the tune of a voice I know well,

Else, do not bring the cup near my mouth.

غشيتُ المنازلَ بالأنْعُمِ

كَمُنْعرجِ الوشي في المِعْصمِ

I roamed the dwellings in comfort

Like a bracelet sliding on an arm.