1. مرت مطيلسة بثوب أطلس

    هيفاء تلعب بالغزال الأنعس

    She passed, shawl-draped, in a satin robe,

    Slender-waisted, playing with the sleepy-eyed gazelle.

  2. مياسةً تلوى القلوب إذا التوت

    وإذا رنت فتكت بطرف نرجسي

    Swaying gracefully, she twists hearts whenever she turns,

    And when she gazes, she slays with a narcissus-like eye.

  3. مكحولة عذراً إذا أبصرتها

    أبصرت سلطان الجواري الكنس

    Kohl-eyed—pardon me!—if you behold her,

    You behold the sovereign of the roving, retreating stars.

  4. جراحة بنبال أحور طرفها

    مناحة بشفاء ثغر العس

    She wounds with the arrows of her dark-eyed gaze,

    She lavishes healing from the cup's lip.

  5. نقشت حقيقتها بكل ظريفة

    وتبرقعت بجمال نوع أقدسي

    She inscribed her essence in every graceful woman,

    And veiled herself in beauty of a most sacred kind.

  6. جمعت بحيطة حسنها نقط البها

    وجلت بطلعتها سطور الحندس

    She gathered the points of splendor within her beauty's compass,

    And with her appearance dispelled the lines of deepest darkness.

  7. وافيتها أرجو عواطف لطفها

    والفجر بين تسلسل وتنفس

    I came to her, hoping for the tenderness of her grace,

    While dawn was between streaming forth and breathing.

  8. والصبح منه تسل أنملة الدجى

    وشراعه قد مد ستراً سندسي

    And from the morning darkness's fingertip was drawn away,

    And its sail had spread a curtain of fine silk.

  9. والعالم العلوي والسفلي معا

    للَه بين مكبر ومقدس

    And the upper and lower worlds together

    Praised God, some proclaiming His greatness, others His holiness.

  10. وأنا على أعتاب دولة حسنها

    ألقيت رحل جوى جريح الملمس

    And I, upon the thresholds of her beauty's realm,

    Laid down the saddle of longing, wounded to the touch.

  11. وذكرت أشواقي لها وتلهفي

    وأنين قلبٍ من مصائبها كسى

    And I told her of my longings and my anguished yearning,

    And the moaning of a heart clothed in her afflictions.

  12. فتمايلت تيهاً وراحت تنثني

    عجباً وقد نظرت بنظرة معبس

    Then she swayed in pride and began to turn,

    In self-admiration, having cast a scowling glance.

  13. وتألمت من لوعتي وتولهي

    وتكلمت بتدلل وتدلس

    And she was pained by my anguish and love-madness,

    And spoke with coyness and dissimulation.

  14. فطفقت أرفل في ثياب تذللي

    وأمس وجهي في تراب المجلس

    Then I began to walk in trailing robes of my abasement,

    And press my face into the dust of the gathering-place.

  15. فتواضعت مذ شاهدتني مغرماً

    دنفاً وقالت قد رضيتك مونسي

    Then she humbled herself when she saw me lovestruck,

    Wasted with love, and said, 'I have accepted you as my companion.'

  16. فمددت كف السول أطلب وصلها

    والقلب بين مصدقٍ وموسوس

    Then I stretched out desire's palm, seeking union with her,

    While my heart wavered between trust and nagging doubt.

  17. رفعت حجاب الهجر فيما بيننا

    وعدت على قلبي الحزين الموجس

    She lifted the veil of estrangement that lay between us,

    And assailed my sorrowful, apprehensive heart.

  18. فوضعت خد الاعتذار على الثرى

    وشرعت أذكر عهد ود قد نسى

    Then I laid the cheek of apology upon the dust,

    And began to recall a covenant of love that had been forgotten.

  19. وأقول قصدي الوصل كان تمنيا

    إن التمني رأس المال المفلس

    And I say: my desire for union was only a wish;

    Indeed, wishing is the bankrupt's capital.