1. تااللَه يا ظبيات الروم إن لعبت

    بين المعاطف منكنّ الصبا ميسا

    By God, O gazelles of Rum, if the east wind has danced

    among your curves, swaying gracefully,

  2. أو غازل الغنج في الأجفان ادعجها

    وافترّ ثغرٌ يعاطي درُّهُ اللعسا

    or coquetry has wooed the darkest among the eyelids,

    and a mouth has parted, its pearls mingling with dusky lips,

  3. أو زججت بين قوسي الحواجب أو

    أضا على غررٍ صبحٌ ولاح مسا

    or there was fine tapering between the brows’ twin bows, or

    dawn has shone upon bright foreheads and evening has appeared,

  4. عطفاً على مغرمٍ من عهد صبوته

    أزكت بأحشائه نار الهوى قبسا

    have pity on a lovesick man: since his days of youthful passion,

    love’s fire has kindled a flame within his breast.

  5. حلو الفكاهة لكن صبح عارضه

    بدا فوجه الرضى منكنّ قد عبسا

    Sweet of wit, yet the dawn upon his beard

    has appeared, and the face of your favor has frowned.

  6. يا طالما غازلتني كل فاتنةٍ

    حوراء تخدع في أجفانها الحبسا

    Ah, how often every enchantress has flirted with me,

    dark-eyed, concealing captivity within her eyelids,

  7. بسامة الثغر في أعطافها هيفٌ

    تبيت حب التلاقي ترقب الغلسا

    her mouth all smiles, her curves slender,

    spending the night longing to meet, awaiting the pre-dawn gloom.

  8. معسولة الريق معطار تلهفها

    تشفي بمرشفها الخمري كل أسى

    Her saliva honeyed, her yearning fragrant,

    she heals every sorrow with her wine-like lips.

  9. تشتاقني مثلما اشتاقها وإذا

    سارت تقول عسى أني أراه عسى

    She longs for me just as I long for her; and when

    she sets out, she says, “Perhaps I shall see him—perhaps!”

  10. محجوبةٌ لا تراها الشمس بارزةٌ

    زارت بلا موعد لا تختشى الحرسا

    Secluded, never seen by the sun out in the open,

    she visited without appointment, fearing no guards.

  11. بتنا وزندي وشاحٌ في معاطفها

    وبدر غرتها لا تعرف الدنسا

    We spent the night, my forearm a sash around her curves,

    and the full moon of her forehead knew no stain.