1. شملتني بثوبها المنقوشِ

    ذات وجهين عبقري وريش

    She enfolded me in her embroidered robe.

    She of two faces: fine brocade and plumage.

  2. شهدت عينها بعيني فكنا

    واحداً في بساطها المفروش

    I beheld her eye with my eye, so we became

    one upon her spread-out carpet.

  3. شمت منها برق الهدى في ظلام

    هو كوني بنورها المرشوش

    I glimpsed from her the lightning of guidance in a darkness

    that is my existence, sprinkled with her light.

  4. شامنا مكة وكعبة قلبي

    بيتها الأمْنُ للفتى المستجيش

    Our Shām is Mecca, and my heart’s Kaaba

    is her house, a haven for the youth who seeks aid.

  5. شرب القوم كاسها مذ تجلت

    فمحتهم وهم جبال شريش

    The company drank her cup when she revealed herself;

    then she effaced them, though they were mountains of Sharīsh.

  6. شغفتني بحبها في سواها

    وبدت بالسوى بلا تشويش

    She enthralled me with love for her in what is other than her,

    and appeared through what is other, without confusion.

  7. شهرة تنفر الأوانس منها

    وبها الإنس حاصل للوحوش

    A renown from which the maidens recoil,

    yet through it, wild beasts find companionship.

  8. شبهوه ونزهوه وقولوا

    بهما لا بواحد مغشوش

    Liken Him, declare Him transcendent, and affirm

    both, not a single adulterated view.

  9. شم عرف الوصال من قال هذا

    هو ما هو بغير ما تفتيش

    He has smelled union’s fragrance who says, “This

    is what it is, without any probing.”

  10. شهوات النفوس أقوى حجاب

    وهي للمرتقي مجالي النقوش

    The desires of souls are the strongest veil,

    yet for the one who ascends, they are where patterns are revealed.