خَليلَيَّ إِن قالَت بُثَينَةُ ما لَهُ

أَتانا بِلا وَعدٍ فَقولا لَها لَها

My friend, if Buthainah says "Why has he not come?"

Tell her "He came though not promised, so blame him not."

أَتى وَهوَ مَشغولٌ لِعُظمِ الَّذي بِهِ

وَمَن باتَ طولَ اللَيلِ يَرعى السُهى سَها

He came, preoccupied with important affairs,

And he who spends the night tending his flocks, mistakes.

بُثَينَةُ تُزري بِالغَزالَةِ في الضُحى

إِذا بَرَزَت لَم تُبقِ يَوماً بِها بَها

Buthainah adorns herself with the gazelle at dawn,

When she appears no day remains without beauty.

لَها مُقلَةٌ كَحلاءُ نَجلاءُ خِلقَةً

كَأَنَّ أَباها الظَبيُ أَو أُمَّها مَها

She has dark eyes, pure and perfect in nature,

As if her father were the deer or her mother the doe.

دَهَتني بِوِدٍّ قاتِلٍ وَهوَ مُتلِفي

وَكَم قَتَلَت بِالوُدِّ مَن وَدَّها دَها

She has slain me with a killing affection,

And how many has she slain with the love they bear her!