مُنِعتُ النَومَ بِالسَهَدِ

مِنَ العَبَراتِ وَالكَمَدِ

Sleep was denied me by wakefulness,

From tears and suppressed anguish,

لِحُبٍّ داخِلٍ في الجَو

فِ ذي قَرحٍ عَلى كَبِدي

For a love nestling in my core,

In a wound festering on my liver.

تَراءَت لي لِتَقتُلَني

فَصادَتني وَلَم أَصِدِ

She appeared before me to slay me,

So I evaded her, and did not evade.

بِذي أُشُرٍ شَتيتِ النَب

تِ صافي اللَونِ كَالبَرَدِ

Of smooth, pure complexion,

With a mouth pouting like the full moon,

ثِقالٌ كَالمَهاةِ خَري

دَةٌ مِن نِسوَةٍ خُرُدِ

Heavy as the water-drawer’s bucket

When filled from deep-dug wells,

وَتَمشي في تَأَوُّدِها

هُوَينا المَشيِ في بَدَدِ

And she walks seductively,

Swaying gently as she treads.

كَما يَمشي مَهيضُ العَظ

مِ بَعدَ الجَبرِ في الصَعَدِ

Like the pregnant she-camel walking

Slowly after her burden is removed.

وَفَنَّدَني الوُشاةُ بِها

وَما في ذاكَ مِن فَنَدِ

And the slanderers attacked me about her

Though in that there was no scandal.