1. أَسهَرَ جَفني وَعَفا

    حُلوُ دَلالٍ وَجفا

    He kept my eyelid sleepless and wore it away,

    one sweet in coquetry and aloofness.

  2. ماكُنتُ لولا قَدّه

    أَهوى القَضيب الأَهيَفا

    But for his stature, I would not

    love the slender branch.

  3. صُدودُهُ داءٌ وَلَ

    كِن نَظرَةٌ مِنهُ شِفا

    His aversion is a sickness, but

    a glance from him is a cure.

  4. عَرَّفَني فَرطَ الأَسى

    وَالوَجدَ قَلبي عَرَّفا

    He made me know grief beyond measure,

    and taught my heart passionate longing.

  5. واحَرَبا لِعارِضٍ

    خَطَّ لِقَتلي أَلِفا

    Alas for a downy cheek

    that traced an alif to kill me!

  6. وَناظِرٍ عَلَيَّ في

    سَطوَتِهِ قَد أَسرَفا

    And for an eye that, against me,

    has gone too far in its onslaught.

  7. فَدَيتُ قَدّاً عامِلاً

    لَهُ وَصدغاً مُشرِفا

    I would ransom a stature doing its work

    for him, and an overhanging temple-lock,

  8. وَعارِضٍ وَقَعَ لي

    بِالوَجدِ حَسبي وَكَفى

    and a downy cheek that decreed for me

    longing—enough for me, and enough indeed.

  9. ماذا عَلى الجاني عَلَي

    يَ في الهَوى لَو عَطَفى

    What would it cost the one who wrongs

    me in love, if he showed compassion?

  10. أَجودُ ما كانَ إِذا

    عَنَّ لَهُ أَن يَنصِفا

    He is at his most generous when

    it occurs to him to act fairly.

  11. وَبارِقٌ هَيَّجَ لي

    فَرطَ الأَسى وَالأَسَفا

    And a flash of lightning has stirred in me

    grief and regret beyond measure,

  12. وَعيشَةٍ وَلَّت فَما

    وَجَدتُ عَنها خَلَفا

    and a life that has gone—I have not

    found anything to take its place.