1. قوامُ غصنٍ كأنَّه أَلِفٌ

    تُهدي لنا من رُضابها لَهبا

    A bough's form, as though it were the letter alif;

    she offers us flame from her saliva.

  2. باطِنُها مُكْتَسٍ وظاهرُها

    لِلعينِ يُبدي مستَنْزَهاً عَجبا

    Her inside is clothed, while her outside

    reveals to the eye a wondrous pleasure-ground.

  3. قَد يَئِسَتْ منْ بقائِها فترى

    أَدمعَها طولَ ليلها سَكبا

    She has lost hope of surviving, so you see

    her tears pouring down all through her night.

  4. تُكابد الليلَ وهي جاهِلَةٌ

    وعمرُها في الكِبادِ قدْ ذَهَبا

    She struggles through the night, unaware,

    and her life has already been spent in the struggle.