ترى ظَنَّني مِنْ جلدةِ الرَّقِّ عاذلي

فلامَ على مَنْ تشتكي رقةَ الجلْد

Did my harshness make you think I lack tenderness?

Blame not who you complain to of being tender-skinned.

وتحمرُّ خدَّاها إذا ما نظرْتُها

حياءً أبى أنْ تجرحَ الوردَ بالوردِ

Her cheeks grow rosy when I look upon her,

Modesty made her unwilling to bruise the rose with a rose.