إني امرؤٌ أبغضُ النعاجَ وقد

يعجبني من نتاجِها الحمَلُ

I am a man who hates ewes, yet

I am a man who loathes the ewes, and yet

I may like a lamb of theirs.

I find delight in the ram-lambs they beget.

من عذّبَ اللَهُ بالزنا فأنا

لا ناقة لي فيه ولا جمَلُ

He whom God tormented with adultery, I

Whomever God chastises for woman's sin,

Have neither she-camel nor camel regarding it.

I have no she-camel, nor male, therein.

يعجبني الأمردُ الطريرُ إذا

أبصرتهُ أهيفاً لهُ كفَل

I like the rose finch when

The beardless, sprouting youth wins my regard,

I see it warbling, with food in its claw,

Slender of waist, with haunches full and hard.

حتى إذا ما رأيتُ لحيتَهُ

فليس بيني وبينه عمَل

Until when I see its beard,

But when I see the beard upon his face,

There is no pact between it and me,

No business 'twixt us implies an embrace.

إلّا سليمان إنّهُ رجلٌ

يحلُّ بيني وبينه القُبَلُ

Except Solomon - he is a man

Except Sulayman—he is a man, 'tis true,

Between whom and it there is kissing.

Between us, kisses are a lawful due.