وَمَليحَةٍ كَالشَمسِ رَأدِ الضُحى

خَطَرَت تُميلُ عَلى الوَرى بِقَوامِها

Like the radiant sun at dawn’s first light,

She came gliding, leaning with her slender shape.

حَيَيتُها فَثَنَت إِلَيَّ تُحِيَّتي

فَتَسَلَّمَت روحي بِرَدِّ سَلامِها

I greeted her; she returned my greeting,

And with her peace my soul was filled and draped.

وَعَدَت وِصالاً أَخلَفَتهُ وَأَرسَلَت

طَيفاً يَمينُ النَفسَ في أَحلامِها

A tryst she made but then left unfulfilled,

Sending instead from sweet imaginings

بِرِسالَةٍ دَقَّت مَعاني لَفظِها

وَزَهَت لَآلئُ عَقدِها بِنِظامِها

A phantom messenger with words that thrilled,

Well-strung like pearls and fair in gleamings.

مَضمونُها حِفظُ الوِدادِ لِمُغرَمٍ

لَم يُلفَ غَيرَ مُحافِظٍ لِذِمامِها

The message told of loving and delight

For one passion-thrilled, who else but guards her troth.

رِسالَةُ الطَيفِ الَّذي آوى بِها

مِنها الخَيلُ أَلَذُّ مِن إِلمامِها

The phantom and his missive wings took flight;

Than which no sweeter draught my spirit quaffed.