رُبَّ هيفاءَ رَدَاحٍ

ذاتِ بُدنٍ وبياضِ

Many a radiant Eve in a place of solitude,

Of supple body and snowy complexion,

بعلُها شيخٌ جليلٌ

لو تراهُ قُلتَ قاضي

Her husband an aged venerable Shaykh,

If you saw him, you would say he is a judge.

نِكْتُها بين يديه

وافترقنا عن تراضي

I winked at her before him

And we parted by mutual consent.

لم يُبالِ الشيخُ عاراً

وهو عن يومين ماضي

The Shaykh cared not for shame

Though it was but two days ago.

خالدَ اللؤم أمُغْضٍ

أنت لا بل مُتغاضي

Khaled, blame the vile man, not me,

Nay, you are but condoning.

بكَ عرَّضتُ وإن كن

تَ قليل الامتعاض

For your sake I propositioned her though

She showed some reluctance at first.

ثم صرَّحتُ وما مع

نى احتشامي وانقباضي

Then I spoke plainly, for modesty

And coyness were not for me.

ليس مثلي يترك القصْ

دَ ويمشي في العِراض

One like me does not give up his pursuit

And walk away in frustration.