له من عيون الوحش عين مريضة

له من عيون الوحش عين مريضة

ومن خضرة الريحان خضرة شاربِ

ومن خضرة الريحان خضرة شاربِ

He has a languid eye like the eyes of wild beasts,

He has the sick eye of a savage beast

And his mustache has the green hue of basil;

And the greenness of basil leaves in his pallor

كأن غلاماً ماهراً خطه له

كأن غلاماً ماهراً خطه له

فجاء كنصف الصادمن خط كاتب

فجاء كنصف الصادمن خط كاتب

As though a skillful boy had drawn it for him,

As if an accomplished youth had traced it for him

And it came out like half the letter ṣād in a scribe’s hand.

So it came out half alluring, half from a scribe's hand