حَيِّ الرَبابَ وَتِربَها

أَسماءَ قَبلَ ذَهابِها

Strum her strings and their melody,

Before Asma's departure.

اِرجِع إِلَيها بِالَّذي

قالَت بِرَجعِ جَوابَها

Return to her with that which

She said in her song's refrain.

عَرَضَت عَلَينا خُطَّةً

مَشروقَةً بِرُضابِها

She presented us a radiant plan,

Beaming with her approval.

وَتَدَلَّلَت عِندَ العِتا

بِ فَمَرحَباً بِعِتابِها

And coquettishly complained

When met with reproach - so welcome her blame!

تُبدي مَواعِدَ جَمَّةً

وَتَضَنُّ عِندَ ثَوابِها

She reveals trysts of beauty,

Yet is shy of rewards.

ما نَلتَقي إِلّا إِذا

نَزَلَت مِنىً بِقِبابِها

We only meet when she descends,

Cloaked, to visit me.

في النَفرِ أَو في لَيلَةِ ال

تَحصيبِ عِندَ حِصابِها

In a caravan, or on a starless night,

Near the walls of her abode.

اُزجُر فُؤادَكَ إِذ نَأَت

وَتَعَزَّ عَن تَطلابِها

Restrain your heart when she comes,

Though it longs to seek her.

وَاِشعِر فُؤادَكَ سَلوَةً

عَنها وَعَن أَترابِها

And make your heart feel solace

From her and her friends.

وَغَريرَةٍ رُؤدِ الشَبا

بِ النُسكُ مِن أَقرابِها

For, my lad, piety is best

When kin are far.

حَدَّثتُها فَصَدَقتُها

وَكَذَبتُها بِكِذابِها

I spoke true and lied to her

With her own lies.

وَبَعَثتُ كاتِمَةَ الحَدي

ثِ رَفيقَةً بِخِطابِها

And sent the keeper of secrets

As a friend with my letter,

وَحشِيَّةً إِنسِيَّةً

خَرّاجَةً مِن بابِها

A female companion,

Sneaking out her door.

فَرَقَت فَسَهَّلَتِ المَعا

رِضَ مِن سَبيلِ نِقابِها

She left and cleared the obstacles,

Lifting her veil from the path.