حُورِيَّة لاَحَتْ لَنَا تَنْثَنِي

كَالغُصْنِ حَيَّاهُ الصِّبَا حِينَ هَبْ

A maiden passed by bending softly

Like a branch its youth the zephyr breathes into

مَرَّتْ فَمَا فِي الْحَيِّ إِلاَّ فَتَىً

فُؤَادُهُ فِيإِثْرِهَا قَدْ ذَهَبْ

She walked on and none alive but one

Whose heart to follow her had flown

شُعَاعُ عَيْنَيْهَا إِذَا مَا رَنَتْ

يُوقِعُ فِي الأًنْفُسِ مِنْهَا الرَّهَبْ

When her glances fall they strike

Awe within the soul that's like

وَالْوجْهُ كَالْجَنَّة حُسْناً فَإِنْ

ظَنَنْتَ عَدْناً قَدْ تَرَاءَتْ فَهَبْ

Her face is beautiful as heaven's bowers

Think you Eden unto sight now flowers

وَالشَّعرُ مَنْضُودٌ عَلَى رَأْسِهَا

كَالْعَسْجَدِ الْحُرِّ زَهَا وَالتَهَبْ

Her hair lies curled upon her head

Like burning hyacinths, rich red

يُشْبِهُ فَوَّارَةَ نُورٍ لَهَا

أَشِعَّة مَوَّاجَةٌ بِالصَّهبْ

Resembling torches brightly burning

Their arrows darting, rays sunward turning

وَرُبَّ رَاءٍ فَيْضُهُ

فَأَكْبَرَ الْوَاهِبَ فِيما وَهَبْ

Full many a questioned glance have I

Sent up in praise of God on high

وَصَاحَ مَذْهُولاً أَلاَ فَانْظُرُوا

فِي هَذِهِ الأَزْمَةِ هَذَا الذَّهَبْ

And cried in wonder, "Look now, look

On this bright treasure, this beauty unsoiled!"

اعْجَبْ بِهِ كَنْزاً عَلَى ذُرْوَةٍ

إِذَا سَمَا الْطَّرْفُ إِلَيْهِ انْتَهَبْ

A jewel she on peak of fame

When eyes fly to her, seized with shame.