وأَحور يسبي بطرفٍ يكل

وأَحور يسبي بطرفٍ يكل

وتخجلُ منه الظُّبا والظباءْ

وتخجلُ منه الظُّبا والظباءْ

And a dark-eyed youth captivates with a languid gaze;

With a glance that captivates he ensnares,

And sword blades and gazelles are abashed before him.

Putting to shame the gazelle and deer.

بخدَّيه من حسنهِ والشّباب

بخدَّيه من حسنهِ والشّباب

تجمّعَ ضدّان نار وماءْ

تجمّعَ ضدّان نار وماءْ

In his cheeks, from his beauty and youth,

In his cheeks, such beauty and youth,

Two opposites have come together: fire and water.

Fire and water combined, conflict clear.

وفي مقلتيهِ وقد صَحّتا

وفي مقلتيهِ وقد صَحّتا

كما صَحَا سقمٌ وانتشاءْ

كما صَحَا سقمٌ وانتشاءْ

And in his eyes—though both are sound,

In his languid eyes that wide awake,

Just as he is sober—lie sickness and intoxication.

Illness recovered, health full and sheer.

عَفَفْتُ وعفتُ الحيا في هوا

عَفَفْتُ وعفتُ الحيا في هوا

هُ حتى استوى صدُّهُ واللقاءْ

هُ حتى استوى صدُّهُ واللقاءْ

I kept chaste and spurned modesty in loving

I restrained my love, self-respect intact,

Him, until his rejection and meeting him became alike.

Equalling his disdain and my desire.

وكلُّ حياءٍ يذودُ العفا

وكلُّ حياءٍ يذودُ العفا

ف عن ودِّه فعليه العفاءْ

ف عن ودِّه فعليه العفاءْ

And any modesty that drives chastity

All modesty that would protect one's love,

Away from love for him—may ruin fall upon it!

Must itself be shielded, that's only fair.