وصَرَفتُ عيني وهي عالقةٌ

صَرْفَ الرضيعِ برغمِه فُطِما

I turned my eyes away, though still attached,

Like a baby forcibly weaned from the breast.

عن كلِّ ما جرت الدماءُ به

ما دقَّ من شيءٍ وما عَظُما

I turned from everything my blood had fused with,

From all that throbbed and grew into my bones.

عن دورةِ الوجه التي انسجمت

وجمالَ هيكلِها الذي انسَجمَا

From that face whose features blended into one,

The beauty of its form perfectly composed.

نَطَّتْ به شفتانِ زُوِّدَتا

بألذِّ ما وَعَتِ الشفاهُ فما

Two lips endowed with the sweetest words,

That mouths can fashion or have ever framed.

جَمَعَ الشتاتَ يمُجُّ مرشفهُ

عَبَقَ الربيعِ وينفُخ الضَرما

When he smiles his dimples flash like lightning,

The spring breeze blows and kindles tender flames.

عن رَوعَةِ النَهدَينِ خلتُهما

متوزِّعَيْنِ إذا هما التَأمَا

I turned my eyes away from the two breasts,

Shifting gently, when together pressed.

عن كلِّ ما فيها وأحْسبُها

خُلِقَتْ مَعانيَ لم تجد كَلِما

From all of her that means things words can’t say,

Made to express meanings words can’t convey.

حتى لأخجَلُ أن تُمَدَّ يَدي

لتجنِّدَ القِرطاسَ والقلَلَما

I’d hesitate to let my hand reach out,

To muster pen and paper to betray.

عَرَّيتُها خَلْساً وما أَثِمَتْ

ووجَدْتُ لذَّةَ مُشتهٍ أَثِما

I stripped her secretly and did no wrong,

And felt the pleasure of a sinner’s joy.

وصَرَفتُ عيني أَدَّري أَلَماً

من حيثُ رُحتُ أُضاعِفُ الأَلَما

I turned my eyes away, knowing the pain

Where I’d find mercy, I would find destroy.

كانَ الوجودُ أُريدُه عَدَماً

ويُريدُني أن أُوجِدَ العَدَما

Existence I wished to make nonexistence,

And it wished I bring nonexistence into play.