1. وشادن بالكرخ ذي لثغةٍ

    وإنما شرطيَ في اللثغِ

    And a gazelle-like youth in al-Karkh, with a lisp—

    And my only stipulation is a lisp.

  2. ما أشبه الزنبور في خصره

    حتى حكى العقرب في الصدغِ

    How wasp-like he is at the waist,

    Even mimicking a scorpion in his temple-lock!

  3. في فمِهِ دِرياق لدغٍ إذا

    أحرق قلبي شدة اللدغِ

    In his mouth is an antidote to stings, when

    The sting’s fierceness sets my heart ablaze.

  4. إن قلتُ في ضَمّي له أين هُوْ

    تفديك روحي قال لا أدغي

    If, as I embrace him, I say, “Where is it?

    May my soul ransom you!” he says, lisping, “I don’t know.”