1. إِذا خَدِرَت رِجلي ذَكَرتُكِ صادِقاً

    وَصَرَّحتُ إِذ أَدعوكِ بِاِسمِكِ لا أُكني

    When my leg grows numb, I remember you in earnest,

    And speak your name plainly when I call you, using no byname.

  2. وَإِنّي لَتَغشاني لِذِكرَكِ رَوعَةٌ

    يَخِفُّ لَها ما بَينَ كَعبي إِلى قَرني

    And at the mention of you, a shudder surely sweeps over me,

    All of me growing light with it, from ankle to crown.

  3. وَأَفرَحُ بِالأَمرِ الَّذي لا أُبينُه

    يَقيناً سِوى أَن قَد رَجَمتُ بِهِ ظَنّي

    And I rejoice in something I cannot discern

    With certainty—I have only hazarded a guess about it.

  4. وَقُلتُ عَسى عِندَ اِصطِباري وَجَدتُهُ

    لِذِكرَتِها إِيّايَ صَرَّت لَها أُذني

    And, feeling it as I endured patiently, I said, “Perhaps

    My ear rang for her because she remembered me.”

  5. فَيا نُعمُ قَلبي في الأَسارى إِلَيكُم

    رَهينٌ وَقَد شَطَّ المَزارُ بِكُم عَنّي

    So, O Nuʿm, my heart is among your captives,

    Held in pledge, though your dwelling has grown far from me.

  6. قَدَرتِ عَلى نَفعي وَضُرّي فَأَجمِلي

    وَفُكّي بِمَنٍّ عَن إِسارِكُمُ رَهني

    You have power to help and harm me, so be gracious,

    And, as a favor, free my pledged heart from your bonds.

  7. لَكِ الوُدُّ مِنّي ما حَيِيتُ مَعَ الهَوى

    هَنيئاً نِلا مَنٍّ وَقَلَّ لَكُم مِنّي

    My affection and passion are yours as long as I live,

    Yours to enjoy, [without] reminders of favor—yet too little from me for you.

  8. أَبَيتُ فَلَم أَسمَع بِها قَولَ كاشِحٍ

    قَديماً فَأَنِّب ما بَدا لَكَ أَو دَعني

    I refused, and did not heed a spiteful foe’s words about her

    In days past; so reproach me as you please, or leave me be.