ريم بمبسمه جَوف الظَلام جَلا

وَكُلما مَرَ في وادي الغَرام حَلا

With her smile, Rim lit up the dark night

And whenever she passed through the valley of love, she adorned it

لَما رَنا وَفُؤادي ظَل مُشتَعِلا

قالَت لَواحظه إِنا نَسود عَلى

When she glanced at me, while my heart remained inflamed

She said, noticing me: “We are black over white gazelles.”

بيض الظبا قُلت أَنتُم أَعين سود

بِمُهجَتي وَضَميري حبه غرسا

I said: “You are black-eyed ones.”

In my soul and conscience, her love took root

وَمن سَعير الهَوى أَورى بِهِ قبسا

يا سادة مِنهُم رسم القوى درسا

And whoever felt the flames of passion, she lit in him a spark

O masters, she taught them lessons of valor

قالوا فَجسمك يَوم البين صفه عَسى

نَعوده قُلت يا أَهل الوَفا عود

They said: “Perhaps your body, the day we're apart, may heal

We will restore it.” I said: “O people of loyalty, return!

كَم مِن قُلوب بسهم النائِبات رموا

وَكَم مُحب عَلى إِتلافه قدموا

How many hearts have archers of separation struck!

How many lovers have they sent to their doom!

عَلى رِقاب الوَرى وَالناس قَد حكموا

مُلوك حسن عَلى صَيد الحشا عزموا

They have ruled over people and the earth

The kings of beauty were bent on hunting gazelles

فَقُلت أَنتُم مُلوك بالبها صيد

So I said: “You are kings whose prey is splendor.”