حَدّثنا يا فَتى وَأَخبرنا

وَأَيِّما شِئتَ مِنهُما فَقُلِ

Speak to us, O youth, and narrate,

And whichever of the two you wish, then say,

عَنعِنْ رِجالَ الهَوى وَمُسنَدَهُ

عَن رَجُلٍ مِنهُمُ إِلى رَجُلِ

About the men of passion and their support,

From a man among them to another man,

عَن حَيَّةٍ في الخُدودِ ظالِمَةٍ

تَمنَعُ مِن شَمِّ وَردِها الخَضِلِ

About a serpent in the cheeks doing wrong,

Preventing the smelling of its tender bud.

إِنَّ لَها رُقيَةً مُجَرَّبَةً

وَإِنَّ أَلفاظَها مِنَ القُبَلِ

Verily it has a proven incantation,

And verily its words are from kisses.