1. عَلِقَ النَوارَ فُؤادُهُ جَهلاً

    وَصَبا فَلَم تَترُك لَهُ عَقلا

    His heart foolishly fell for al-Nawār,

    And grew infatuated; she left him no reason.

  2. وَتَعَرَّضَت لي في المَسيرِ فَما

    أَمسى الفُؤادُ يَرى لَها شَكلا

    And she showed herself to me on the journey; no longer

    Could my heart see anyone her equal.

  3. ما ظَبيَةٌ مِن وَحشِ ذي بَقَرٍ

    تَغذو بِسِقطِ صَريمَةٍ طِفلا

    No gazelle among the wild creatures of Dhū Baqar,

    Feeding a fawn at the edge of a dune,

  4. بِأَلَذَّ مِنها إِذ تَقولُ لَنا

    وَأَرَدتُ كَشفَ قِناعِها مَهلا

    Is more delightful than she when she says to us—

    As I sought to lift her veil—'Wait!

  5. دَعنا فِإِنَّكَ لا مُكارَمَةً

    تَجزي وَلَستَ بِواصِلٍ حَبلا

    Leave us, for no kindness

    Do you repay, nor do you keep a cord intact.

  6. وَعَلَيكَ مِن تَبلِ الفُؤادِ وَإِن

    أَمسى لِقَلبِكَ ذِكرُهُ شُغلا

    And the heart's lovesickness is yours to bear, even if

    Its remembrance has become your heart's preoccupation.'

  7. فَأَجَبتُها إِنَّ المُحِبَّ مُكَلَّفٌ

    فَذَري العِتابَ وَأَحدِثي بَذلا

    So I answered her: 'The lover is burdened;

    So leave off reproach, and show generosity.'