وعدَت بوصلٍ والزمانُ يُسَوِّفُ

حَورَاءُ ناظِرُها حُسَامٌ مُرهَفُ

She promised a reunion, but time kept postponing,

Her cheeks blushed, her glances like sharp swords.

نَشوانَةٌ صَهباءُ منهَلُ ثَغرِها

دُرٌّ ورِيقَتُها سلافٌ قَرقَفُ

A delicate, fair-skinned gazelle, her mouth a spring,

Her saliva like pearls, her lips softly parting.

تختالُ بينَ البدرِ منها والنَّقا

غُصنٌ يَمِيسُ به النعيمُ مُهَفهَفُ

She sways between the full moon and the star,

A branch caressed by pleasure, gently waving.

لا تحسبَنَّ الخُلفَ شِيمَةَ مِثلِها

وَعَدَت ولكنَّ الزمانَ يُسَوِّفُ

Do not think breaking a promise normal for her,

She promised, but time kept on postponing.

يا بانةً قد أطلَعَت أغصانُها

وَرداً جَنِيّاً باللواحِظِ يُقطَفُ

O you whose branches have blossomed,

Your roses ready to be plucked by the glances.

وغزالةٍ تحكي الغَزالةُ وَجهَها

وبعينِ ناظِرِها الحُسامُ الأوطَفُ

And gazelle, your face tells of a gazelle,

Your eyes like the sharpest sword of the loving.

ما تأمُرين لِمُغرَمٍ تَسطُو بهِ

أجفانُكِ المرضى ولا تستعطِفُ

What do you order for a lovesick one in throes of love,

Your harsh eyelids show no mercy or softness.

أو ماءُ وجهكِ وهو صُبحٌ مُشرِقٌ

وسوادُ شعرِك وهو ليلٌ مُسدِفُ

Is it your face, the radiant light of dawn,

And your hair the dark night closing in?

ويهزُّ غُصنُ البانِ مِنكِ على النَّقا

فإليَّ من أحدٍ سواكِ تَشَوَّفُ

The bough sways for you against the starry sky,

To none but you have I looked with yearning.