ماذا تَقولينَ في فَتىً كَلِفِ

يَعطِفُ بِالحُبِّ غَيرُ مُنعَطِفِ

What do you say of a stubborn lad

Who loves relentlessly, never turning back?

جَعَلتِ لا سُنَّةً مُؤَبَّدَةً

بِاللَهِ قولي نَعَم وَلا فَخَفي

You've set no lasting precedent -

For God's sake, say "yes" and do not conceal!

أَوقَعَ بِيَ الحُبَّ قَولُ واصِفَةٍ

يا لَيتَها لَم تَقُل وَلَم تَصِفِ

A description of love has left its mark;

If only she'd not said it nor described!

رُدّي جَوابَ الكِتابِ سَيِّدَتي

وَلَو عَلى قِطعَةٍ مِنَ الخَزَفِ

My lady, send a letter in response

Even if on a fragment of pottery.