رُبَّ فتاةٍ حُرَّةِ المُقَلّدِ

تختال في زِيِّ غلام أمردِ

Many a free girl walks with the gait of a sturdy lad,

Swaying in the dress of a frolicking youth,

حين بدا للحُلْم أو كأنْ قَدِ

إن لا تَمِسْ في مشيها تأوَّدِ

As soon as she felt the first flush of passion,

Or as though she never touched the ground in her walk.

غيداء من ماء الشباب الأغْيَدِ

كأنما ترنو بِعيْنَيْ فَرْقدِ

She sways supple as a branch of youth's sapling,

As if she is glancing with the eyes of a fawn,

بيضاء لم تشْحبْ ولم تَخدَّدِ

تضربُ متْنَيْها بوحْفٍ أسْودِ

White, unblemished by the yellowness of sickness,

Striking her neck with black tresses,

يَنْمى إلى دِعْص لها مُنَضَّدٍ

تكسو عقودَ الدُرِّ والزبرجدِ

Clustered like bunches of ripened dates,

Adorned with necklaces of pearl and ruby,

نَحْراً كصرْحِ المرمرِ المُمَرَّدِ

دافعْتُها فما اتقتني باليدِ

With a throat like an edifice of polished marble

I confronted her, but she did not confront me with her hand,

لكنْ برجليها ولم تَنَكَّدِ

فبتُّ منها مطمئنَّ المقْعَدِ

Rather with her legs, and she did not waver,

So I remained still, resigned to my seat,

أشُكُّ حاذَيها بعرْدٍ أجْرَدِ

مُلَمْلَمٍ مثل الرَّشَاء المُحصَدِ

Suspecting that next to her was a hairy monkey,

Disheveled like harvested heads of millet,

مُعَاوِدٍ أمثالَها معوَّدِ

في بيت طائيٍّ كريم المحْتدِ

Persistently courting the likes of her, accustomed,

In a lofty ornate house, honorable assembly,

سمْحٍ بِعِرْسيْهِ حليم المشْهَدِ

خالدُ يا ذا السؤددِ المؤطَّدِ

Tolerant in his wedding, forbearing in his spectacle.

Enduring Khaled, O source of glory abounding,

كم لك عندي من يد لم تُجْحَدِ

تُثْني عليك بالفعال الأمجدِ

How much do you have with me of hands that did not fail you,

Who praise you for your most glorious deeds.