وَغَزالٍ في الدُجى لَي

ثِ ظَلامٍ ذي فِراسِ

And a gazelle in the darkness, a

Lion of the night, fierce of intent,

بِتُّ أَسقيهِ مِنَ الرا

حِ بِكاسٍ بَعدَ كاسِ

I passed the night pouring him the

Wine, in cup succeeding cup,

وَأُحَيِّيهِ إِلى أَن

مالَ مِن ثِقلِ النُعاسِ

And cheering him until he finally

Swayed from the heavy weight of sleep.

ثُمَّ أَدنَيتُ يَميني

نَحوَهُ رِفقاً لَماسِ

Then I drew my right hand near,

Towards him gently, seeking a touch.

فَتَصَدّى قائِلاً لي

بِاِبتِهارٍ وَاِنتِعاسِ

But he confronted me, saying

With arrogance and heavy eyes:

كَم تَرى مِثلَكَ يا جا

هِلُ قَد مَرَّ بِراسي

"How many like you, do you see, O

Ignorant fool, have courted me?"

فَأَخَذناهُ اِقتِصاداً

عَنوَةً غَيرَ مِكاسِ

So we seized him then, decisively,

By force, without any bargaining;

لَيسَ لِلرَيحانَةِ الغَض

ضَةِ بُدٌّ مِن مَساسِ

For the tender basil branch has no

Escape from being touched and culled.