أَهَوَىً والمَشِيبُ قَدْ حالَ دونَهُ

والتَّصَابي بَعْدَ المَشِيبِ رُعُوتَهْ

I yearned, though gray hair had come between us,

And dalliance after gray hair is folly,

أَبَتْ النَّفْسُ أَنْ تُطِيعَ وقالَتْ

إنَّ حُبِّي لا يَدْخُلُ القِنِّينَهْ

My soul refused to obey and said,

“My love won't enter the monastery.”

كَيفَ أَعْصِي الهَوَى وطِينَةُ قَلْبِي

بالهَوَى قَبْلَ آدَم مَعْجُونَهْ

How can I disobey desire when my heart's clay

Was kneaded with desire before Adam?

سَلَبْتُهُ الرُّقادَ بَيْضَةُ خِدْرٍ

ذاتُ حُسْنٍ كالدُّرَّةِ المَكْنُونَهْ

It robbed me of sleep—egg of a crested lark,

A beauty like a hidden pearl.

سُمْتُهَا قُبْلَةً تُسَرُّ بِها النَّفْسُ

فقالَت كذا أَكُونُ حَزِينَة

I called her “a kiss” to gladden my soul.

She said, “If so, I'll be sorrowful.”

قُلْتُ لابُدَّ أَنْ تَسِيري إلَى الدَّ

ارِ فقالَتْ عَسَى أنَا مَجْنُونَهْ

I said, “You must go home,” and she said,

“Maybe I'm mad!”

قُلْتُ سِيري فَإنَّنِي لَكِ خَيْرٌ

مِنْ أَبٍ رَاحِمٍ وَأُمٍّ حَنُونَهْ

I said, “Go, for I wish you well,

Better than a kind father, a loving mom.”

أَنَا نِعْمَ القَرِينُ إنْ كُنْتِ تَبْغِينَ

حَلاَلاً وَأنْتِ نِعْمَ الْقَرِينَهْ

I'm a fine companion, if you want

Permissible—and you’re a fine companion.

قَالَتِ اضْرِبْ عَنْ وَصْلٍ مِثْلِي صَفْحاً

وَاضْرِبِ الخَلَّ أَوْ بَصِيرَ طَحِينَهْ

She said, “Forget joining with one like me,

And forget dough or bleached flour.”

لا أَرَى أَنْ تَمَسَّنِي يَدُ شَيْخٍ

كَيْفَ أَرْضَى بِهِ لِطَشْتِي مَشِينَهْ

I don't want an old man's hand to touch me.

Why would I be pleased by his flabby grasp?

قُلْتُ إنِّي كَثِيرُ مَالِ فقالَتْ

هَبْكَ أَنْتَ المُبَارِزُ القاَرُونَهْ

I said, “I'm very rich,” and she said,

“Get away, you pompous Qarun!”

سَيِّدِي لا تَخَفْ عَلَيَّ خُرُوجاً

في عَروضِي فَفِطْنَتِي مَوْزُونَهْ

“My lord, don't worry I'll slip away—

My composure is well-regulated.”

كُلُّ بَحْرٍ إنْ شِئْتَ فِيهِ اخْتَبِرنِي

لا تُكَذِّبْ فَإنَّنِي يَقْطِينَهْ

“Test me in any sea, if you wish.

Don't call me a liar, for I'm an octopus.”