1. وَمُهفهَفٍ نَبتَ الشَقيقُ بَخَدِّهِ

    وَاهتَزّ أَملُودُ النَقا في بُردِهِ

    And a slender youth—anemones have sprung upon his cheek,

    And the dune's supple bough swayed within his cloak.

  2. فَأَتى بَرَوضِ الحُسنِ أَخضَرَ يانِعاً

    غَضَّ الجَنى مِن وَجنَتَيهِ وَقَدِّهِ

    So he brought forth beauty's garden, green and flourishing,

    With tender fruit from his cheeks and his form.

  3. فَليَبخَلِ الرَوضُ الأَنيقُ بَزَهرِهِ

    خَدّاهُ أَحسَنُ بَهجَةً مِن وَردِهِ

    So let the lovely garden withhold its flowers;

    His cheeks are more splendid than its roses.

  4. وَلَيَكهَمِ السَيفُ الصَقيلُ فَإِنّما

    عَيناهُ تُغني عَن ذَلاقَة حَدِّه

    And let the polished sword grow blunt, for

    His eyes alone suffice in place of its keen edge.

  5. ماءُ الشَبِيبَةِ وَالجَمالِ أَرَقّ مِن

    صَقلِ الحُسامِ المُنتَضى وَفِرِندِهِ

    The luster of youth and beauty is more delicate than

    The polish of the unsheathed sword and its watered pattern.

  6. وَنَسِيمُهُ أَندى وَأَعطَرُ مِن صَبا

    نَجدٍ وَنَشرِ عَرارِه أَو رَندِهِ

    And his breath is dewier and more fragrant than the east wind

    Of Najd and the scent of its arar blossoms or its laurel.

  7. ذُو عِزّةٍ يُعزى الصباحُ لِنُورِها

    حُسناً كَما يُعزى السَرابُ لِوَعدِهِ

    He bears a glory to whose light dawn is traced

    In beauty, as the mirage is traced to his promise.

  8. وَسنانُ مَكحُولُ المَدامِعِ كاحِلٌ

    جَفنَ المُحبِّ المُستَهامِ بِسُهدِهِ

    Drowsy, his eye-corners dark with kohl, he lines

    The love-crazed lover's eyelid with his sleeplessness.

  9. إِن كُنتُ أَهدَيتُ الفُؤادَ لَهُ فَقُل

    أَيَّ الجَوى لِجَوانِحي لَم يُهدِهِ

    If I have given him my heart, then tell me:

    What burning anguish has he not given to my breast?

  10. يَحيى الوَرى بِتَحِيّةٍ مِن وَصلِهِ

    مِن بَعدِما وَرَدُوا الحِمامَ بِصَدِّه

    All people revive with a greeting of union with him,

    After they have drunk of death through his rejection.