1. بِأَبي الثّلاثُ الآنِسَا

    تُ الرَّائعَاتُ الغَانياتُ

    May my father be ransom for the three charming maidens,

    the dazzling beauties.

  2. أَقْبَلْنَ والأصْدَاغُ في

    وَجْنَاتِهنَّ مُعَقْرَباتُ

    They approached, with their temple-locks on

    their cheeks curled like scorpions.

  3. أَلْفَاظُهُنَّ مُؤَنّثا

    تٌ والجُفُونُ مُذكَّراتُ

    Their words were feminine,

    and their eyelids masculine.

  4. حتى إذا عايَنْتُهُنَّ

    وللأُمورِ مُسَبِّباتُ

    When at last I beheld them—

    and things have their causes—

  5. جَمّشْتُهُنَّ وقُلْتُ طِي

    بُ عِنَاقِكُنَّ هو الحياةُ

    I caressed them and said, 'The sweetness

    of your embrace is life.'

  6. فَخَجِلْنَ حتى خِلْتُ أَنَّ

    خُدودَهُنَّ مُعَصْفَراتُ

    Then they blushed, until I thought that

    their cheeks were dyed with safflower.