أَلا حَيِّيَا لَيلى وَقُولا لَها هَلا

فَقَد رَكِبَت أَمراً أَغَرَّ محجَّلا

Oh hail Layla and say to her "Come now!"

For she has set out on a most perilous course

دَعِي عَنكِ تَهجاءَ الرِجالِ وَأَقِبِلي

عَلى أَذلَغيِّ يَملأُ استَكِ فَيشلاَ

Leave off heeding the slander of men, and give ear

To me, whose love fills you and brings you rest

بُرَيذِيَنةٌ بَلَّ البَراذِينَ ثَفرُها

وَقَد شَرِبَت مِن آخِرِ اللّيلِ أُيَّلا

A little cup, but it intoxicates like large goblets

And she drank deep of the dregs of night

وَقَد أَكَلَت بَقلاً وَخِيماً نَباتُهُ

وَقَد نَكَحَت شَرَّ الأَخايِلِ أَخيَلا

She's eaten bitter herbs, though lush their growth

And married the worst of steeds, a sorry mount

وَكَيفَ أُهاجِي شاعِراً رُمحُهُ اُستُهُ

خَضِيبَ البَنانِ لا يَزالُ مُكَحَّلا

How can I contend with a poet whose lance is

Stained with blood, and is never without kohl?

فَلاَ تَحسَبِي جَريَ الرِهانِ تَرَقُّشاً

وَرَيطاً وإِعطاءَ الحَقِينِ مُجَلَّلا

Think not the flow of talk mere play and jest

And granting rights but sport and pretense