وشادنٍ مُختصَرِ الخَصرِ

مُكحَّل الأجفان بالسحرِ

With a slender waist and kohl-lined eyelids

Like magic's water on his cheeks

كأنَّ ماء الحُسن في خدِّهِ

ماءُ النَّدى يُمزَجُ بالخَمرِ

Dew's water mixed with wine it seems

In the blush that colors his face

وقُبلة منه على غفلةٍ

زيادةٌ في مُدَّةِ العُمرِ

A stolen kiss from him unknowingly

Lengthens the span of my life

لاحَظنَني بالوعد أجفانُهُ

فَصدَّق الظنَّ به فكري

His eyes promised me with their gaze

And my heart believed their pledge

في ليلةٍ صلى كها زاهرٌ

تصغر عنه ليلةُ القَدرِ

On a night as splendid as Laylat al-Qadr

All other nights seem small in comparison

أنظُرُ في البدرِ لعلّي به

أُسكِّنُ اللوعةَ في صدري

I look up at the full moon hoping

To soothe the anguish in my heart

والقلب يأبى أن يكن سالياً

عن مُشبهٍ للبدر بالبدرِ

But my heart refuses to be consoled

By a mere substitute for the moon

حتّى إذا جاوَزَ ميعادنا

والدمع يجري حذرَ الفَجرِ

Until our promised time had passed

And tears flowed at dawn's cautious light

أقبل والحَيرةُ في عينه

شاهِدَةٌ تشهد بالعُذرِ

He came, confusion in his eyes

Witnessing to his excuse

والخَجَل الظاهر في خدِّه

قد زاده زَهراً على زهرِ

While the visible shyness on his cheek

Added more radiance to its bloom

يلتمِس العَفوَ على ما مضى

فيما جَنى بالنَّظَر الشَّزرِ

Seeking forgiveness for what had passed

From the mischief made by his gaze