وشَمْطَاءَ بالخَزِّ الثمينِ تَلَفَّعَتْ

وتَرْشُقُني من لَحْظِها بِنبَالِ

With fine brocade she is arrogantly dressed,

And she shoots me with glances from her eyes.

فهامَ بها قلبي ولم أدرِ أنني

تَعَوّضْتُ عن شِملالة بِعِقالِ

My heart was smitten though I did not know,

That I had replaced a doe with an old she-mule.

إلى أن دَنَتْ نحوي كشفتُ خمارَها

لَمَحْتُ لَها بطناً كمثلِ سجالِ

Until she approached me, I lifted her veil,

I glimpsed her belly like a water skin.

تُحَدِّثُ عما فاتَها من صبائها

وتَذْكُر ما في دهرِها المتوالي

She speaks of the youth she has left behind,

And recalls her endless former days.

وكم زحرةٍ تُبْدِينَها إثرَ زَحْرَةٍ

وجَرْجَرةٍ مخلوطةٍ بِسُعالِ

With many a whimper after every bark,

Mixed with a throaty wheezing cough.

وقد حاولتْ مني عِناقاً فاغتدت

تُعَلِّلُ مني صدقَها بمحالِ

She tried to embrace me, became excited,

Justifying her affection with absurdities.

تحاولُ تنبيه الفتى وهو نائمٌ

ولم يهو قرداً في مِثالِ غَزَالِ

She tries to rouse the lad while he's asleep,

He's no ape depicted in a gazelle's form.