وَمَليحة بِالرقمتي

ن كَأَنَّها قَمَر تَبدّا

Charmingly decorated with lines

As if she were a rising moon

تَزري بِأَغصان الريا

ض وَوردها خَدّاً وَقدا

She sways amidst boughs of basil,

Her cheek rosy, her stature tall.

فضت حَديث صَبابة

فَظَنتهُ يَرفُض عقدا

A young woman confided her secret -

I thought he would reject my necklace.

بِتنا ضَجيعي بردة

بِيَد العَفاف لَنا تسدى

Spend the night with me on a blanket,

Guarded by chastity, spread out for us.

وَالبَرق كادَ شُعاعَهُ

أَن يُوقد الظَلماء ندّا

Lightning almost ignited its beams

To kindle the darkness into a fire.

يا بِنت مِن منعوا يد ال

آمال نَحوك أَن تَمدّا

O daughter of those who refused the hand

Of hopes to you, so you may stretch out.

صَبراً يشيدهُ الفُؤا

د إِذا راكي ما تَهدّا

Patience builds castles

When fate makes you despondent.

قَد كُنت سَيد أُسرَتي

فَغَدَوت في ناديك عَبدا

I was the lord of my family

Yet I became your slave.

وَلَقد سَجَنت فَكُنت سَي

فاً ماضياً وَالسجن غَمدا

Though imprisoned, I was free

While prison was my scabbard.

فَإِذا سَكَنت سَكَنت بَح

راً لَو وَثَبت وَثَبت فهدا

When I am still, I am still a sea

That were it to stir, would stir a lion.

إِن الفَتى عِندَ الرعا

ع مِن الوَرى مَن حازَ رَفدا

The young man in times of adversity

Is one who has attained support.

وَإِذا تَأَخر حَظهُ

فَذُنوبُهُ لَم تحص عَدّا

If destiny is late for him

His sins cannot be counted.