قُرِئَ الكِتابُ وَماطَلُوا بِجَوابِهِ

رَأيٌ يُقَدَّمُ مَرَّةً وَيُؤَخَّرُ

The book was read, yet they delayed the answer

An opinion put forth once, and then withdrawn

إِنَّ المُحِبَّ يَعودُ مِنكِ بِخَيبَةٍ

مُتَحَيِّراً في أَمرِهِ يَتَفَكَّرُ

Indeed the lover returns from you disappointed

Perplexed in his affair, lost in thought

يَطوي الصَبابَةَ مِنكِ وَهيَ مَصونَةٌ

بَينَ الجَوانِحِ كُلَّ يَومٍ تُنشَرُ

He folds away his youth, while you keep yours untouched

Each day between your ribs spread open wide

لا لَومَ أَن يَقِفَ الحَبيبُ بِمَنهَلٍ

يَرجو السَبيلَ إِلى الوُرودِ وَيَحذَرُ

No blame that the lover stands at the watering hole

Hoping for access to the roses, hesitant and wary