فإن يكُ قد سَلا وثَنَاهُ عَنِّي

فإن يكُ قد سَلا وثَنَاهُ عَنِّي

رَضاعُ الكأس أو ظبيٌ ربيبُ

رَضاعُ الكأس أو ظبيٌ ربيبُ

For if he has forgotten, and been turned away from me

If he has turned away and abandoned me

By suckling at the cup, or by a hand-reared gazelle,

To the suckling of the cup or a young gazelle

تُسَلِّطُه النفوسُ على هَواها

تُسَلِّطُه النفوسُ على هَواها

وتُعطِيه أزمَّتَها القلوبُ

وتُعطِيه أزمَّتَها القلوبُ

Whom souls make master of their desires,

The souls unleash him upon their passions

And to whom hearts surrender their reins,

And the hearts give him their bridles

بأعطافٍ تُباحُ لها المعاصي

بأعطافٍ تُباحُ لها المعاصي

وألحاظٍ تَحِلُّ لها الذُّنوبُ

وألحاظٍ تَحِلُّ لها الذُّنوبُ

With curves for whose sake sins are permitted,

With glances that permit sins for them

And glances for whose sake transgressions become lawful,

And looks that allow guilt for them

فلي كَبِدٌ به حَرَّى وقَلبٌ

فلي كَبِدٌ به حَرَّى وقَلبٌ

على ما فيه من كَمَدٍ طَرُوبُ

على ما فيه من كَمَدٍ طَرُوبُ

Then I have a liver burning for him, and a heart

I have a liver that is burnt by him

Rapturous despite the grief within it.

And a heart that, despite its wounds, remains tender