أساءت لمن لم يبد منه لها ذنب

فأغضى ولم يصدر لمغضبه عتب

She wronged one who did no wrong to her,

So he was patient and voiced no complaint in his anger.

تجور علينا الغانيات كأنها

سلاطين إطلاق يؤلهها الشعب

The singers oppress us as if they were

Sultans whom the people deify.

فيا حبذا جور يوطد حب من

تسلط عنه والهوى مركب صعب

Oh how good is the oppression that strengthens the love

Of one who dominates you, though love is a difficult ship.

يلومنني في الحب وهو مقدر

وقالوا عذاب قلت لكنه عذب

They blame me for love though it is predestined,

And they said "torture", I said "but it is sweet."

وما حيلتي واللطف منها استمالني

اليها وإن غشت أشعته السحب

I had no power, her charm made me incline

Toward her, though clouds concealed her radiance.

هي الورد يؤذي القاطفين ويجتني

ونصدق ان قلنا هي الظبي والضب

She is the rose that hurts the pickers and is picked,

And we speak truth if we say she is the gazelle and the onager.

أذل الهوى نفسي وكانت أبية

وما حلت عن طبعي ولكن هو الحب

Love humiliated my soul though she was disdainful

And did not change her nature, but it is love.

وما خلت أن الدار تسعى لربها

إلى أن غدا يسعى لساكنه القلب

The abode does not cease to strive for its Lord

Until He comes to dwell in its heart.

تلقيت أنباء الوشاة صحيحة

ولكنها في السر منها هي الكذب

I received the spies' news as true

But in secret it is from her that the lie comes.

وما ضر محفوظ الوداد جحودها

علانية كيما يزال به الخطب

The denial of her affection does no harm when made

Publicly, so that it may dispel anxiety.

وقلت لها يوما لمن بك أشتكي

ليحكم بالإنصاف سامحك الرب

And I said to her one day "To whom can I complain of you

That he may judge with fairness?" Have mercy on me, Lord.

فقالت وفي العينين مصداق قولها

إلى ارفع الشكوى فقلت لها حسب

She said, with her eyes confirming her words:

"Make your complaint to the Highest." I said to her "Enough."