1. أخو الصبابة يعلم

    ماذا يلاقي المتيم

    The companion of longing knows

    What the love-enthralled one endures.

  2. يا لائمي لست تدري

    خلّ الملامة واسلم

    O my reproacher, you do not know;

    Leave off reproach, and be at peace.

  3. قلبي أسير غزالٍ

    بدر الجمال به تم

    My heart is captive to a gazelle,

    A full moon, in whom beauty is complete.

  4. ظبي بعينيه سحرٌ

    هاروت منه تعلم

    A gazelle with magic in his eyes,

    From whom Harut learned.

  5. قوامه سمهريٌ

    يهتز والطرف لهذم

    His figure is a straight spear,

    Swaying, while his gaze is a keen blade.

  6. من منصفي أو مجيري

    من عادلٍ منه أظلم

    Who will grant me justice or shelter me

    From a just one by whom I am wronged?

  7. رقيق خصرٍ ولكن

    فواده ليس يرحم

    Slender of waist, yet

    His heart shows no mercy.

  8. إذا رآني سقيماً

    يقول جفني أسقم

    When he sees me ailing,

    He says, 'My eyelid is more ailing.'

  9. يضن باللثم تيهاً

    ولا يزال ملثم

    He begrudges kisses out of conceit,

    And remains with his face veiled.

  10. أواه من خمر ريقٍ

    أوآه درٌ منظم

    Ah, the wine of his saliva!

    Ah, pearls strung together!

  11. يا عاذلي استريحا

    من الملام إلى كم

    O my two reproachers, take your rest

    From reproach—how much longer?

  12. اسم الذي صيرتني

    ألحاظه الدعج مغرم

    The name of him who has made me,

    With his dark glances, love-struck:

  13. في عينه خير داءٍ

    وألفا تشبيه مبسم

    In its eye lies the best ailment,

    And two alifs of a smiling mouth's likeness.

  14. ختامه كابتداءٍ

    وقلبه يا محكم

    Its ending is like its beginning;

    And reverse it, O discerning one.

  15. وشطره فعل أمرٍ

    طرداً وعكساً تحكم

    And half of it is an imperative verb,

    Forward and backward—judge!

  16. وبعض شطريه بحرٌ

    والعكس معشوق اعلم

    And part of its two halves is a sea;

    And its reverse is a beloved—know this.

  17. لا يعرفنه لساني

    وعند قومي معظم

    My tongue does not know it,

    Yet among my people it is revered.

  18. فيا له من مليج

    رؤياه للعين مغنم

    Ah, what a charming one he is!

    The sight of him is a prize for the eye.

  19. أفديه من ذي جمالٍ

    هواه في الناس قسم

    I would ransom him, one endowed with beauty;

    Love for him is shared among people.

  20. أذاب قلبي دلالاً

    ولست بالحب متهم

    He melted my heart with his coyness,

    And I am not accused of love.

  21. له على الحسن ختمٌ

    والحسن فيه تختم

    He has a seal upon beauty,

    And in him beauty has donned a signet.