لو لم يناسب ريق فيه الراح

ما كان شاكل خده التفاح

If his saliva were not as sweet as wine,

His cheek would not resemble an apple.

ساق به كملت ليالي الأنس فال

ريق المدام وفرقه المصباح

He came at night to complete nights of intimacy,

His saliva is wine, his separation, a lamp.

في وجهه روض الجمال فخده

ورد وذاك الثغر منه اقاح

On his face is the garden of beauty, his cheek

A rose, and his mouth, pomegranate seeds.

تصى لطيب حديثه اسماعنا

وقلوبنا بجماله ترتاح

Our ears incline towards his sweet talk,

And our hearts find peace in his beauty.

تتنشق النسمات رباه ولا

عجب اذا هامت به الأرواح

The breeze plays with him, it is no wonder

If spirits become enamored with him.

خالفت عذالي عليه لجلهم

وعصيت ما قد قاله النصاح

I opposed my friends because of him,

And disobeyed the advice of counselors.

ما باله بالوصل لم يسمح ولم

يربح ثوابي والسماح رباح

With union, he was not kind, nor

Did he profit me, yet gentleness is most fruitful.

رشأ تبرج بي لواحظه وما

لي عن هواه في الغرام براح

He was coy with me when I admired him, though

I had no relief from passion in love for him.

كم لي حديث في هواه مسلسل

عني رواه مدمعي الفضاح

How much I have to tell about my love for him,

My tears recount it while the slanderers watch.

عجبا له في الحب لم يعدل ولم

تصفح لواحظه وهن صفاح

Wondrous is he in love, he was not just,

His admirers were not spared, though they are chaste.

وجوانحي منه لقد ملئت جوى

وجوارحي منها بهن جراح

My innermost thoughts are filled with passion for him,

My limbs wounded with intense love for him.

واها لايام الشباب لو انها

عادت وكان قرارها الارواح

Oh, the days of youth! If only they

Could return and settle in the soul.

للّه عصر شبيبة قضيّته

وزمان لهو كله افراح

God's will, I spent my youth,

A time of total joy.

حيث الصبا والوصل طوع يدي ولي

حكم عليه ولا عليّ جناح

When passion and union were at my command, and I

Had influence, no blame attached to me.