عَفٌّ ضَميري هازِلٌ

لَفظي وَفي نَظَري عَرامَه

My conscience is restless

My conscience is chaste, though my manner is jesting,

My words are empty in my eyes

My words are teasing, and in my gaze is a spirited boldness.

لا أَستَهِشُّ إِلى الصِبا

إِذ لَيسَ تَتبَعُني النَدامَه

I do not yearn for youth

I do not rush eagerly toward youthful folly,

For regret does not follow me

Since no regret follows in my wake.

مُتَلَطِّفٌ لا أَشرَئِب

بُ وَلا تُوَبِّخُني المَلامَه

I am gentle, I do not get angry

Gentle in grace, I do not crane my neck in greed,

Nor do reproaches blame me

Nor does blame rise to reprimand me.

وَلَرُبَّما نَزَّهتُ عَي

ني في مَحاسِنِ ذي وَسامَه

And perhaps I glance

And oftentimes I have feasted my sight,

At the beauty of one with grace

Upon the charms of one possessed of beauty.

أُهدي لَهُ طُرَفَ الحَدي

ثِ لِأَستَعيدَ بِها كَلامَه

I give him the edge of conversation

I offer him the witty novelties of speech,

To regain his speech

That I might win his conversation in return.

لا غايَتي مِنهُ هَوىً

تُلفى مَغَبَّتُهُ نَدامَه

My purpose is not love from him

My goal from him is not a passion,

Though its absence brings regret

Whose consequence is found to be remorse.

إِنَّ المُحِبَّ تَبينُ نَظ

رَتُهُ إِذا نَظَرَ السَلامَه

Indeed the lover's gaze discerns

For the lover is revealed by the nature of his look,

When looking for well-being

When he gazes with an intent of purity.