أبصرتُها بيضاء ذات ذوائب

أبصرتُها بيضاء ذات ذوائب

في مجلس متوافر الجلاس

في مجلس متوافر الجلاس

I saw her, fair-skinned, with tresses,

I saw her white with braids

In a gathering thronged with guests,

In a gathering with seated company

كالبدر ليلة تمّه وبكفّها

كالبدر ليلة تمّه وبكفّها

عودٌ يحرّك ساكنَ الأنفاس

عودٌ يحرّك ساكنَ الأنفاس

Like the full moon on the night of its fullness, and in her palm

Like the full moon on a complete night, in her hand

An oud that stirs still breaths.

A lute stirring the still breath

فمدحتها بقصيدة وسألتُها

فمدحتها بقصيدة وسألتُها

وصلا لتضرب هامة القياس

وصلا لتضرب هامة القياس

So I praised her in a poem and asked her

So I praised her with a poem and asked her

For union, so she might strike the head of analogy.

For connection to strike the pinnacle of glory

وذكرت في شعري لها أنّي امرؤٌ

وذكرت في شعري لها أنّي امرؤٌ

بالحبّ ممتحن وبالإفلاس

بالحبّ ممتحن وبالإفلاس

And in my verse I told her that I was a man

And I mentioned in my verse to her that I am a man

Afflicted by love and by pennilessness.

Tested in love and bankrupt

قالت ولم ترد العفاف وإنما

قالت ولم ترد العفاف وإنما

سمحت لحاها الله في إيناس

سمحت لحاها الله في إيناس

She said—not seeking chastity, but merely

She said, and did not grant chastity, but rather

Being obliging—God curse her—with friendliness:

Allowed what God gave her in coyness

يا من يقدّر أن بشعره

يا من يقدّر أن بشعره

ودع بنات الناس

ودع بنات الناس

O you who think that with your poetry—

O you who pretends that with his verse

And leave other people's daughters alone.

Can woo the daughters of people