قد مرَّ بي أحمدٌ فما وَقَفا

فليته في رجوعه عطفا

Ahmad passed by me but did not stop,

Would that on his return he had paid me some heed.

فقلتُ سُؤلي أما ترقُّ لمن

أمسى من الحبِّ هائماً دَنِفا

So I said, “Will you not have pity on one

Who pines all night, crazed with love?”

فاحمرَّ خدّاه من معاتبتي

كأنما الورد منهما قُطِفا

At my reproach his cheeks turned red

As though roses had just been plucked from them.

فقال لي لا تلم على صلفي

كلُّ مليحٍ ترى له صَلَفا

Then he said, “Do not blame my indifference -

You will always find the handsome ones disdainful.”