1. هذا الُمورَّدُ خَدٌّ

    أَم جُلَّنارٌ وَوَردُ

    Is this rose-tinted thing a cheek,

    or pomegranate blossom and roses?

  2. تلكَ السَّوالفُ آسٌ

    أذَلكَ الخَالُ نَدُّ

    Those temples are myrtle;

    is that beauty spot aromatic incense?

  3. في فِيكَ يا بَدرُ راحٌ

    أَم فيهِ مِسكٌ وَشَهدُ

    Is there wine in your mouth, O full moon,

    or musk and honey in it?

  4. لي عِندَ خَدَّيكَ عَهدٌ

    مِن أَينَ للوردِ عَهدُ

    I have a pledge with your cheeks—

    how can roses keep a pledge?

  5. نَثَرت دَمعي بِثَغرٍ

    فيهِ منَ الدُّرِّ عِقدُ

    I scattered my tears for a mouth

    within which is a necklace of pearls.

  6. ما سَلَّ لَحظُكَ سيفاً

    إلاَّ وقلبيَ غِمدُ

    Your glance has never drawn a sword

    without my heart being its sheath.

  7. من لي بغُصنِ أَراكِ

    قَد قُدَّ لي منهُ قدُّ

    Who will grant me a bough of arak,

    from which a figure has been fashioned for me?

  8. يا ظالِماً قَد بَراني

    شَوقٌ إِليهِ وَوَجدُ

    O cruel one, I have been worn away

    by longing for him and passion.

  9. وَمُعرضاً خَدَّ قَلبي

    مِنهُ عِذارٌ وَخدُّ

    And O you who turn away, my heart has been scarred

    by his cheek's down and his cheek.

  10. أَما لِصَدِّكَ عَنِّي

    يا مُنيَةَ النَّفسِ صَدُّ

    Is there not, for your rejection of me,

    O my soul's desire, a check?

  11. وَمَا لِفَرطِ ظَماءِ

    من ريقكَ العَذبِ وردُ

    And is there not, for my overwhelming thirst,

    a draught from your sweet saliva?

  12. عندي إِلَيكَ اشتِياقٌ

    وَوَحشَةٌ لا تُحَدُّ

    I have a longing for you,

    and loneliness that knows no bounds.

  13. أَما وَساعَةٍ وَصلٍ

    يا طِيبَها لَو تُردُّ

    Ah, by an hour of union—

    how sweet it would be, if it were restored!