وَلَولا اِن يُقال صبا نُصيبُ

لَقُلتُ بِنَفسي النَشأ الصِغار

And were it not for fear it would be said, "He is love smitten in youth,"

I would have said to myself when still a child:

أَلا يا لَيتَني قامَرتُ عَنها

وَكانَ يحل لِلنّاسِ القِمار

"Oh, would that I had gambled it away from her!

If only gambling were lawful for people!"

فَصارَت في يَدي وَقمرت مالي

وَذاكَ الرِبح لَو عَلِم التِجار

So it would have belonged to me and I would have kept my fortune,

a profit - if only merchants knew! -

عَلى الاِعراض مِنها وَالتَواني

فَاِن وَعدت فَمَوعِدِها ضَمار

From holding myself back and hesitating about her.

For if you make a promise, fulfilling it leads only to regret.

بِنَفسي كُل مَهضوم حَشاها

إِذا قَهَرت فَلَيسَ لَها اِنتِصار

I swear by my life, every debased coward who desire her,

if he subdues her, has no power to defend himself.

إِذا ما الزل ضاعَفن الحَشايا

كَفاها اِن يَلاث بها اِزار

When slippery paths double the cowards,

it is enough for her that a flimsy lower garment clothes her!

وَلَو رَأَت الفَراشَةُ طار مِنها

مَعَ الاِرواحِ روح مُستَطار

If a moth saw her, it would fly away with the spirits -

a startled soul!