ومهفهف لعب الشباب بطوره

فمشى يمثل نفسه الاسكندرا

And youth toyed with a slender-waisted lad's bearing;

So he walked, casting himself as Alexander,

او انه يختال اسعد تبع

وعلى صريع الوجود جهز حميرا

Or strutting as though he were As'ad Tubba',

And against one felled by existence, he mustered Himyar.

نسج البنفسج في رقيق عذاره

طرزا امال عليه وردا احمرا

The violet wove in the fine down of his cheeks

An embroidered pattern, over which it bent a red rose.

عبقت على صحف اللجين صنوفه

وعليه فت الخال مسكا ازفرا

Its varieties breathed fragrance over pages of silver,

And upon it the beauty mark crumbled strong-scented musk.

يا معرضا لفت الجمال عنانه

اظننت ان الحسن لن يتغيرا

O aloof one, whose reins beauty has turned,

Did you think that beauty would never change?

رفقا بمولوه الفؤاد مهيم

سلب الغرام جنانه فتحيرا

Be gentle with one distraught of heart, crazed with love;

Passion stole his heart, leaving him bewildered.

ظلما تظن بي السلو وانها

ابدا احاديث الهوى لن تفترا

Unjustly you think I have forgotten; yet they—

The tales of love—will never, ever fade.

ولطيف ذاتك مررت بخاطري

الا كساني الشوق مرطا اصفرا

By the subtle grace of your being, whenever you crossed my mind,

Longing clothed me in a yellow mantle.

فاذا خلوت فانت خلوة فكرتي

واذا جلوت فانت غاية ما ارى

So when I am alone, you are my thought's secluded retreat;

And when I come forth, you are the ultimate object of my gaze.

كيف السلو ولطف حبك سره

في سر قلبي حال تكويني سرى

How could I forget, when your love's subtle grace—its secret—

Coursed through my heart's secret depths as I was formed?

يا قلب صبرا عل يجمع شملنا

باللطف من جعل الفراق مقدرا

O heart, be patient; perhaps he will reunite us,

With gentle grace—he who decreed separation.