نَفسي الفِداء لِمَن حَوَت

أَبهى الجَمال الأَنفسِ

My soul I'd sacrifice for she

Of beauty most sublime,

خَطَرت فَلاحَ الغُصن لي

مُتَمايلاً في سُندُسِ

She swayed, and blossomed the branch

In gracefully motions of time.

فَسَأَلتُها عَن اِسمِها الس

سامي وَلَم أَكُ بِالمسي

Her noble name I asked to know,

But she left me in mystery.

حَتّى إِذا غَضبت وَقَد

نَفَرت كَخَشفٍ أَلعَسِ

When angered, she shied away

Like a startled fawn so free.

أَلقَت إِلَيَّ صَحيفة

كَصَحيفة المتلمّسِ

A scroll she tossed my way

Like a secret missive.

وَإِذا بِها أَحجيّة

هِيَ منيةُ المُستَأنِسِ

With a riddle encrypted,

To charm her captive.

فَفَضضت مِسك خِتامها

بِحُضور أَهل المَجلسِ

I broke its seal of musk

Before guests in session.

وَدَعَوتُهُم يا سادَةً

سادوا بِحُسن تَفرّسِ

"O lords" I called them

Of insight and discretion.

ما مِثل قَول حَبيبَتي

اِطلب حَياة الأَنفُسِ

"No words like those of my darling:

Seek life for your soul" she did preach.