دَمْعٌ تَنَاثَرَ عِقْدُهُ

وهَوَىً تَحكَّم عَقْدُهُ

Tears scattered, their necklace undone,

While passion held its necklace fast.

يا للْهَوى مِنْ مُعْرِضٍ

يَصِلُ التَّعتُّب صَدُّهُ

Oh passion, what aloofness in you

That makes reproach your guardian!

لَوْلَا مُدامَةَ رِيقِهِ

مَا مَالَ سُكْراً قَدُّهُ

Were it not for the wine of his saliva,

Ecstasy would not have made him drunk.

ثَغْرٌ يُبَاحُ شَهيدُهُ

فَعلامُ يُحْمَى شَهْدُهُ

A mouth lawful to sacrifice for,

So why should its honey be forbidden?

لَمْ يَكْسِني بُرْد الضَّنَا

وَأَبيكَ إِلَّا بَرْدُهُ

The cold of estrangement did not cloak me

While the cold of your tears did cloak it.

إِنّي لأشْكُو في الهَوَى

مَا رَاحَ يَفْعَلُ خَدُّهُ

Of passion I complain -

It went on doing what his cheek did.

مَا كَانَ يَعْرِفُ مَا الجَفَا

حَتَّى تَفَتَّحَ وَرْدُهُ

It did not know what rejection was

Until its rose blossomed.