1. على باب الهوى وقف الجمالُ

    وفي كبدي بفتنته اشتعالُ

    At the door of love stood beauty,

    And in my liver, his allure kindles a blaze.

  2. مددتُ يدي إليه أسِرُّ شيئًا

    فأجبرني على البوح انفعال

    I stretched my hand toward him, concealing something,

    Then emotion compelled me to confess.

  3. فقلت له بطرفٍ لا يداري

    وفي إغضائه ارتسم السؤال

    So I spoke to him with a gaze that concealed nothing,

    And in its lowering, the question took shape:

  4. أريدكَ كالسنا يعطي حياةً

    بصمت لا يضارعه المقال

    I want you like radiance that gives life,

    In silence no speech can rival.

  5. أريدك كالنسيم متى تأنَّى

    وأسرى طاب بالعطر النوال

    I want you like the breeze, whenever it moves unhurriedly

    And journeys by night, its gift is sweet with fragrance.

  6. أريدك جدولاً ينساب عذبًا

    وترقص من ترقرقه الظلال

    I want you as a sweetly flowing stream,

    And its rippling sets the shadows dancing.

  7. أريدك في شغاف النفس وقدًا

    ولكنَّ الزنادَ له ذبال

    I want you as a flame in the soul's innermost core,

    But the fire-striker has a wick,

  8. يُمِدُّ بصيصه عقلي وحسي

    بريٍّ ما لدافقه مثال

    Whose glimmer nourishes my mind and senses

    With refreshment whose outpouring has no equal.

  9. فهل يرضيك أن يخبو ذبالي

    ويطويني بقبضته الزوال

    So would it please you for my wick to grow dim,

    And for extinction to enfold me in its grasp?