تَأَمَّلتُ حَمداناً فَقُلتُ لِصاحِبي

لَقَد كانَ مِن شَرطي زَماناً مِنَ الدَهرِ

I contemplated Hamdan and said to my companion:

I gazed upon Hamdan, and to my companion said:

He was once one of the police officers of his time

He was, for a span of time, the very object of my desire.

فَإِن تَكُ قَد سالَت بِخَدَّيهِ لِحيَةٌ

فَباطِنُ فَخذَيهِ نَقِيٌّ مِنَ الشَعرِ

If his cheeks are now adorned with a beard

For though a flowing beard has now descended on his cheeks,

The insides of his thighs are still hairless

The inner curve of his thighs remains pristine and bare of hair.

تَذَكَّر أَخي ما قَد مَضى مِن شَبابِهِ

وَنِلهُ عَلى تِلكَ الخِيالَةِ وَالذِكرِ

My brother recalls his bygone youth

Recall, my brother, the youth of his that has passed away,

And spends time reminiscing and remembering

And possess him now upon that phantom image and memory.

لَهُ مُقلَةٌ حَوراءُ تَدعو إِلى الصِبا

جَميعَ قُلوبِ العاشِقينَ وَما تَدري

He has a charming beloved who calls to love

He possesses a dark, wide eye that summons to passion

The hearts of all lovers, though she knows it not

All the hearts of lovers, though it knows not of its power.