وَمَلْمَسِ عِفَّةٍ قَدْ نِلْتُ مِنْهُ

بِأَيْدِي اللَّهْوِ مَا شَاءَ التَّمَنِّي

And I touched a chaste caress I gained

By the hands of passion whatever longing wished

مَلَكْتُ بِهِ عِنَانَ الشَّوْقِ حَتَّى

قَضَيْتُ لُبَانَتِي وَأَرَحْتُ ظَنِّي

I controlled with it the reigns of yearning until

I fulfilled my hopes and eased my supposition

فَلا تَسْأَلْ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنْهُ

وَلا تَسْأَلْ عَلَى مَا كَانَ مِنِّي

So ask not what was from it

Nor ask what was from me

فَلَوْلا أَنَّ جُنْدَ الصُّبْحِ وَافَتْ

طَلائِعُهُ وَزَالَ اللَّيْلُ عَنِّي

And had it not been for the army of dawn overtaking

Its vanguards and the night leaving me

لَدُمْتُ عَلَى مُعَاقَرَةِ الأَمَانِي

وَلَكِنْ رُبَّمَا عَاوَدْتُ فَنِّي

I would have persisted indulging my wishes

But perhaps I will return to my art