صد من أهواه عني وسلا

وشواني بالتجني وقلا

A hundred of those I loved turned away from me and kept distant,

And reproached me with estrangement, and said "No!"

من بني الترك بخيل بنعم

فهو لا يدري سوى لفظة لا

Among the Turks is a miserly man of wealth,

Who knows nothing but the word "No!"

ناعس الأجفان قد علمني

طرفه بعد النشاط الكسلا

Drowsy-eyed, he taught me

That after being active he inclines to laziness.

ليّن الأعطاف قاس قلبه

لا تسل بالهجر ما بي فعلا

Gentle of manner, hard of heart,

Do not hope for union from one who has acted thus.

ليس مثلي في هواه عاشق

لا ولا القى الذي القى ولا

There is none like me in love,

Neither he who said "No!" nor he who did so.

قد قضى بالسيف قتلي لحظه

وبرمح القد لي فاعتقلا

With his sword he decided to kill me in an instant,

And with his spear's point he imprisoned me.

هز رمحا وانتضى لي ضاربا

حرت لا ادري بماذا اقتلا

He brandished a spear and rose up against me striking-

I was perplexed, not knowing how I might kill him.

يالقومي من حبيب فارغ

بخلالي لم يزل مشتغلا

O my people! of a lover free

Who was ever engaged in betraying me.

بدر تم ما تبدى مقبلا

ورآه البدر الا افلا

The full moon appears, moving into view,

And the full moon sees nothing but the crescent.

خط فوق الخد سطرا صدغه

نقط الخال به ما شكلا

He drew a line above his cheek, a mole on his temple,

The beauty spot dotted it - what a shape!

صاغه الله نباتا حسنا

ورعاه من نبات وكلا

God created him a fair plant

And nurtured him with care and provision.

من ثناياه ومن الحاظه

حكت نظمي ونسجت الغزلا

From his sides and his glances

My poetry was woven and my love songs composed.

وبسقمي حين اضحى شاعرا

رحت معنى في الهوى مبتذلا

And in my sickness, when he turned into a poet,

I went, through love, broadcasting my shame.

عز في الحسن مثالا فلذا

صرت ما بين البرايا مثلا

He is proud in beauty, an example - and so

I have become among the deserts like an example.

طاف بالكأس على عشاقه

وسقاهم كأس صد وملا

He passed the wine cup around to his lovers

And gave them a cup of firmness and fulfillment.

كل خمر فحرام ما عدا

ريقه فهو مدام لي حلا

Every wine is forbidden except

His saliva - it is to me a permitted drink.

نقل العاذل عني سلوة

كذب العاذل فيما نقلا

The critic has transmitted about me a consolation -

The critic lied in what he transmitted.

ان يقل اني محب فاجل

او سوى هذا اذا قال فلا

If he says I am a lover, no indeed!

Or anything but this, if he speaks, no!

ايها العاذل فيه لا تلم

انا لا اصغي الى من عذلا

O critic, do not blame him,

I do not listen to one who finds fault.