1. شُغِلت بِخِلسة المُقَلِ

    ومَزْجِ الكُحْل بالكَحَلِ

    I was engrossed in the eyes' furtive glances,

    And the blending of kohl with the eyelids' natural darkness,

  2. وما اعتلَّتْ به الألحا

    ظُ فِي أجفانها النُّجُلِ

    And the languor afflicting the glances

    Within their wide eyelids,

  3. ومعشوقٍ يكاد يذو

    ب خَدّاه من القُبَل

    And a beloved whose cheeks almost

    Melt from kisses.

  4. يُعاتِبني ويُعْتِبني

    ويغُضبني ويغَضب لي

    He reproaches me and appeases me,

    And angers me, and grows angry for my sake.

  5. تلاقَيْنا بِلا وَعْدٍ

    ولا كُتُبٍ ولا رسُل

    We met without an appointment,

    With neither letters nor messengers.

  6. يُشَجِّعنا تَعاشُقُنا

    وتَخذُلنا يد الوَجَل

    Our mutual love emboldens us,

    And the hand of fear undermines us.

  7. فألثَمَني حَصَى بَرَدٍ

    تَفَجَّرَ مِن جَنَى عسل

    Then he let me kiss pebbles of hail

    That burst forth from a harvest of honey,

  8. وبَرْقَعَ وَجْهَهُ عني

    بِظاهِر خُمْرةِ الخجَل

    And veiled his face from me

    With the visible wine-red blush of bashfulness.

  9. غزال لم أَرُحْ يوماً

    بِه خِلْواً من الوجَلِ

    A gazelle—never, for a single day, have I been

    Free of fear on his account.