عُقَيِليَّةٌ أَمّا مَلاثُ إِزارِها

فَدِعصٌ وَأَمّا خَصرُها فَبَتِيلُ

A slender beauty, her robe in tatters bundled,

Her waist so fine, a wisp that can be held!

تَرَبَّعُ أَكنَافَ الحِمَى وَمَقِيلُها

بتَثلِيثَ مِن ظِلِّ الأَرَاكِ ظَليلُ

She sits composed within the fire's embers

Cooled in the shade of branches triple-layered.

أَيَا زَينَةَ الدُّنيا وما مُنتَهَى المُنَى

وَيا أَمَلِى هَل لِى إِلَيكِ سَبِيلُ

O loveliness of life, and yet life’s limits!—

My hope, is there a path that leads to you?

فَدَيتُكِ أَعدائِى كَثِيرٌ وَشُقَّتِى

بَعِيدٌ وَأَنصَارِى لَدَيكِ قَليلُ

For you, my enemies I’d ransom utterly,

Though few stand by me, and my woes accrue.

وَكُنتُ إِذا ما جِئتُ جِئتُ بِعِلَّةٍ

فَأَفنَيتُ عِلاّتِى فَكَيفَ أَقُولُ

When I would come, excuses I would tender,

Yet I’ve no plea left now—what can I do?