إِنَّ الَّذي تَيَّمَني حُبُّهُ

أَمرَدُ مِن نَشءِ الدَواوينِ

The one whose love has blessed me

The one whose love has captivated me

Is more smooth than pages bound in diaries

Is a beardless youth from the Diwan's scribes;

قَد نَشَرَ الطومارَ في حِجرِهِ

مُبتَدِئً بِالباءِ وَالسينِ

He has unrolled the scroll across his lap

He has spread the scroll upon his lap,

Starting with the B and the S

Beginning with the letters B and S,

يُطَرِّرُ الوَردَ عَلى خَدِّهِ

مِن عَرَقٍ بِالمِسكِ مَعجونِ

He sprinkles roses on his cheek

Embroidering roses upon his cheek

With musk-infused sweat they're strewn

From sweat that is with musk kneaded.