قالتْ شهدتُ القومَ ذا

ت عشيةٍ يتناشدونْ

She said, I saw the people one evening

Reciting poetry, like tinkling bells

شعراً كرنّاتٍ المثا

ني يستخفُّ السامعين

That beguiles the listeners,

Until when the conversation turned

حتى إذا رقَّ الحدي

ثُ عن المنى وَعن الشجون

To longing and to passion,

God knows I mentioned no one but you

الله يعلم ما ذكر

تُ سواك حين علا الحنين

When yearning intensified.

Tell me, by your Lord, is the magic of your poetry

قلْ لي بربِّكَ سِحرُ شِع

رِك وَحيُه أنىّ يكون؟

And its revelation, where can it be found?

So I answered her, by my father and mother,

فأجبتها بأبي وأُمي

تعلمين وتسألين؟

You know yet still ask?

The magic is from the magic of eyes,

السحرُ من سحرِ العيونِ

وعندك الخبرُ اليقين

And you have the clear knowledge.

And the revelation is from the revelation of intimacy,

والوحيُ من وَحيِ الجفو

نِ وَما إخالك تجهلين

How could I think you ignorant?

So she smiled in wonder and said:

فتبسَّمتْ عُجْباً وَقا

لتْ: عندك السرُّ المصون

With you lies the hidden secret.