ذَكَرَ القَلبُ ذُكرَةً

مِن نِساءٍ غَرائِبِ

The heart recalled a memory

Of exotic women,

خُدَلِ السوقِ رُجَّحٍ

ناعِماتِ الحَقائِبِ

Graceful with their purses,

In the alleys of the market.

رُبَّ لَهوٍ لَهَوتُهُ

بِجِوارٍ رَبائِبِ

Many a frivolity they committed

With maidens nearby,

لَيسَ في ذاكَ مَحرَمٌ

وَإِلَهِ المَغارِبِ

Nothing forbidden in that

By the God of the West.

غَيرَ أَنّا نَشفي الصُدو

رَ بِذَروِ التَعاتُبِ

Except that we end conversations

With hurtful reproaches,

قُلتُ لَمّا لَقيتُها

مَرحَباً بِالمُجانِبِ

When I met her I said

Hello to the aloof one!

أَنعَمَ اللَهُ بِالحَبي

بِ القَريبِ المُعاتِبِ

God has blessed us with love

Between the intimate and reproacher.

أَنتِ أَشهى إِلَيَّ مِن

صَوبِ مُزنِ السَحائِبِ

You are more delicious to me

Than the clouds' rain.

إِنَّما أَنتِ ظَبيَةٌ

مِن إِكامٍ عَشائِبِ

You are just a gazelle

Of a noble tribe,

أَو هِلالٌ بَدا لَنا

وَسطَ زُهرِ الكَواكِبِ

Or a crescent that appeared

Amidst the stars' flowers.

لَيتَ لي مِن طِلابِكُم

أَنَّني لَم أُطالَبِ

I wish I were your student

So I would not have to seek you out,

خُلَّتي لَو بِكُم كَما

بي إِذاً لَم نُراقِبِ

If only I could be with you

Without needing to watch ourselves.

في هَوانا مَن غَشَّكُم

بِحَديثِ الكَواذِبِ

We spurn those who deceived you

With the words of liars.