قد هِمْتُ بالبدوَيِّ في الحُللِ

وكَلِفْتُ بالحَضَرِيِّ في الكِلل

I was inclined towards nomadism in robes,

And was burdened with urbanism in shackles.

فالقلب حُلَّةُ ذَا وكِلَّة ذا

والجِسْمُ للشخصِين كالطَّلل

The heart is the robe of one, and the shackle of another,

While the body is like a saddle for both.

هذا يميل إِلى الجِيادِ وذَا

أَبداً تراه يَحِنُّ للإِبِل

One leans towards steeds,

While the other you’ll always see yearning for camels.

بَدْرَانِ بل شمسانِ نُورُهُما

صَدَأُ العُقُولِ وصَيْقَلُ المُقَلِ

Two moons whose light:

Rusts minds and polishes hearts.

قال الفؤادُ وقد عَشِقْتُهما

مَالِي بِمحْبُوبين من قِبَل

Said the heart after falling for them both:

Why would I love two before?

لو كنت حاضرَنا وقد حضَرا

متلثَّمينِ بوردتيْ خَجَل

If only I was with them as they arrived

Veiled in my roses, shy.

فلثمْتُ من فَرْع إِلى قَدَمٍ

وضمَمْتُ من صدْرٍ إِلى كَفَلِ

I’d kiss from branch to foot,

And embrace from chest to shoulder.

وعقدْتُ شعْرةَ ذا بشَعْرةِ ذا

وحَللْتُ ذَاكَ العقْدَ بالقُبَلِ

I’d tie the hair of one to the other’s,

And adorn that knot with kisses.