قَد زارَني وَكَأَنَّهُ رَيحانة

يَهتَزُّ مِن تَحت القِباءِ الأَخضَرِ

He came to me as though he were a sweet basil

Swaying beneath the green mantle

فَظَنَنتُ مِنهُ ضِمن كُل سَلامة

مِن طيبِهِ شَمامة مِن عَنبَر

So I imagined from his safety in full

The aroma of ambergris

وَلكنز مَبسَمِهِ دَنَوت فَخِلتَهُ

ياقوتة مَلَئَت بِأَنفُس جَوهَرِ

But as I drew near his smiling lips

A ruby filled with the essence of jewels

فَهَصرتُهُ هَصر النَسيم أَراكَةً

مُتَلَطِفاً حَتّى كَأَن لَم يَشعُرِ

I caressed him gently like a light breeze

So delicate it was as though he didn’t feel

مُتَعانِقين عَلى فِراش صِيانَةٍ

مُتَحذرين مِن الصَباح المُسفر

Embracing on a bed of chastity

Avoiding the bright morning