وَمُستَبصِرٍ في الغَدرِ مُستَعجِلِ القِلى
بَعيدٍ مِنَ العُتبى قَريبٍ مِنَ الهَجرِ
With foresight in betrayal, hasty in affection
Far from reproach, near to abandonment
لَهُ شافِعٌ في القَلبِ مِن كُلِّ زَلَّةٍ
فَلَيسَ بِمُحتاجِ الذُنوبِ إِلى العُذرِ
He has an intercessor in the heart for every stumble
So he has no need for sins to have an excuse
تُجاذِبُني الأَطرافُ بِالوَصلِ وَالقِلى
فَتَختَصِمُ الآمالُ وَاليَأسُ في الصَدرِ
The eyes flirt with me with union and affection
So hopes and despair dispute in the chest
بِنَفسي سَقامٌ لا يُداوى مَريضُهُ
خَفيٌّ عَلى العَوادِ باقٍ عَلى الدَهرِ
With myself is an illness not cured for its sick one
Hidden from visitors, lasting for lifetimes
هَوىً باطِنٌ فَوقَ الهَوى لَجَّ داؤُهُ
وَأَعيا عَلى العُذّالِ في السِرِّ وَالجَهرِ
A love deep inside, above love, its disease is severe
And failed the healers, in secret and openly
بُليتُ بِجَبّارٍ يُجَلُّ عَنِ المُنى
عَلى رَأسِهِ تاجٌ مِنَ التَيهِ وَالكِبرِ
I'm afflicted with a tyrant who bars wishes
On his head a crown of confusion and arrogance
قَديرٌ عَلى ما شاءَ مِنّي مُسَلَّطٌ
جَرِيٌّ عَلى ظُلمي أَميرٌ عَلى أَمري
Able over what he willed of me, empowered
Running my injustice, a commander over my command
أَلِفتُ الهَوى حَتّى قَلَت نَفسِيَ القِلى
وَطالَ الضَنى حَتّى صَبَرتُ عَلى الصَبرِ
I'm accustomed to passion until my soul wearied of affection
And longing grew until I was patient with patience
وَكَرخِيَّةِ الأَنسابِ أَو بابِلِيَّةٍ
ثَوَت حِقَبٌ في ظُلمَةِ القارِ لا تَسري
Like an obstinate she-camel or a Babylonian woman
Who settled in the darkness of the camp, not walking
وَكَم لَيلَةٍ لِلَّهوِ قُصَّرَ طولُها
بِساقِيَةِ الكَفّينِ وَالعَينُ لِلخَمرِ
And how many nights of play whose length
Was shortened by the palm-cup and the eye for wine
وَإِنّي وَإِن كانَ التَصابي يَحُثُّني
لِأَبلُغُ حاجاتي وَأَجري عَلى قَدري
And if urges hasten me
To attain my needs and act according to my fate
كَريمُ ذُنوبٍ إِن يُصِب بَعضَ لَذَّةٍ
يَدَع بَعضَها فَوقَ الأَحاديثِ وَالوِزرِ
Noble in sins, if he attains some pleasure
He leaves some above conversations and burden
