أحل دمي الظبي الغرير تعمّدا

وقد حظر الله الدماء وحرّما

I shed the noble gazelle's blood deliberately

Though God has forbidden bloodshed and deemed it unlawful

وضعت له خدّي فتاه تجبّرا

وما ضرّه أفديه أن لو تكرّما

I offered my cheeks to him as he insisted arrogantly

It did him no harm if only he had shown some mercy

خلافا على حكم الهوى وتمرّدا

على الله شيء ما أشدّ وأعظما

Going against the rule of passion and rebelling

Against God, nothing more severe and momentous

أريه انحرافا عنه والقلب عنده

يراعيه إشفاقا إلى حيث يمّما

I show him deviation from it while my heart

Tends to it compassionately wherever it inclines