كَفاكَ ما مَرَّ عَلى راسي

مِن شادِنٍ هَيَّجَ وَسواسي

Enough of what has passed over my head

Let what has passed over my head suffice for you,

Of whisperers who stirred my doubts

From a young gazelle who stirred my dark obsessions.

أَفضَلُ ما أَبلُغُ مِن نَعتِهِ

تَحَدُّثي عَن قَلبِهِ القاسي

The best I can express of her qualities

The utmost description I can reach for him,

Is to talk of her merciless heart

Is to speak of his unyielding heart.

أَغارُ أَن أَنعَتَ مِنها الَّذي

يَنعَتُهُ الناسُ مِنَ الناسِ

I’m jealous to attribute to her what

I am too jealous to describe in her,

People attribute among people

That which people describe in other mortals.

كُلُّ أَحاديثي سِوى ذِكرُها

مُنكَشِفٌ مِنّي لِجُلّاسي

All my talk but mentioning her

All my tales, save for the mention of her,

Is uncovered by me to spies

Are laid bare before my seated companions.

لا حَبَّذا الشُركَةُ في حُبِّها

وَحَبَّذا الشُركَةُ في الكاسِ

Partnership is not good in loving her

How unwelcome is sharing in her love,

And partnership is not good in the cup

Yet how welcome is sharing in the wine cup.