في كَفِّهِ خَيزَرانٌ نَشرُه عَبِقٌ

في كَفِّهِ خَيزَرانٌ نَشرُه عَبِقٌ

مِن كَفِّ أَروَعَ في عِرنينِه شَمَمُ

مِن كَفِّ أَروَعَ في عِرنينِه شَمَمُ

In his palm is a bamboo cane, its fragrance sweet,

In his hand a bouquet whose fragrance spreads

From the palm of an imposing man with a high-bridged nose.

From the palm of the most beautiful in his time I smelled

يُغضي حَياء وَيُغضى مِن مهابَتِهِ

يُغضي حَياء وَيُغضى مِن مهابَتِهِ

فَما يُكَلَّمُ إِلا حينَ يَبتَسِمُ

فَما يُكَلَّمُ إِلا حينَ يَبتَسِمُ

He lowers his gaze out of modesty, and others lower theirs in awe of him;

He lowers his gaze in shyness and is made to lower it in awe

So he is spoken to only when he smiles.

So he speaks not unless he smiles