1. يا ناصِحاً رامَ أَن يَقيني كَلّا

    لَن أُقتَلا إِفكا مِنَ العَدلِ أَن تَقيني

    O adviser who sought to protect me—no!

    I shall not be slain wrongfully; it is just that you protect me.

  2. وَجدٌ بِهِ القَلبُ ذو اِرتِماضِ

    ماضِ هَل مِن مَزيد

    A passion that leaves the heart in burning anguish

    persists—is there any more?

  3. يا وَجدُ كُن دائِمَ التَقاضي

    قاضِ بِما تُريد

    O passion, be unceasing in your demands,

    judging as you wish.

  4. إِنّي عَنِ الأَعيُنِ المَراضِ

    راضِ فاِسقِ العَميد

    Indeed, with the languid eyes I am

    content; so give the lovesick one drink

  5. مِن مُقلَتي ساحِرٍ مُبينِ عَلّا

    مُعَلَّلاً لاحَدَّ في سَكرَةِ الجُفونِ

    from the two eyes of an unmistakable sorcerer, draught after draught,

    so that he is soothed; no penalty attends the intoxication of eyelids.

  6. هَواكَ يا فِتنَةَ الأَنامِ

    نامِ وَالصَبرُ زور

    Love for you, O temptation of humankind,

    grows, and patience is a lie.

  7. أَتَيتَ مُستَبعَدَ المَرامِ

    رامِ سَهمَ الفُتور

    You attained a seemingly unreachable goal,

    shooting the arrow of languor.

  8. وَجِئتَ بِالسِحرِ في اِنتِظامِ

    ظامِ إِلى الصُدور

    And you came with magic in ordered array,

    thirsting for the breasts.

  9. الزَهرُ فيكَ عَلى الجَبينِ يُتلى

    مُفَصَّلاً خُذ رايَةَ الحُسنِ بِاليَمينِ

    The blossoms upon your brow are recited

    in detail; take beauty's banner in your right hand.

  10. إِنَّ فُؤاداً بِكَ اِستَجارا

    جارا فيهِ الوَجيب

    Indeed, a heart that sought refuge in you

    is wronged by the pounding within it.

  11. إِن كَتَمَ الشَوقَ وَالأَوارا

    وارى شَيئاً عَجيب

    If it conceals longing and burning heat,

    it hides something wondrous.

  12. أَو ذَكَرَ الهَجرَ وَالنَفارا

    فارا دَمعٌ سَكيب

    Or if it recalls estrangement and aversion,

    streaming tears surge forth.

  13. سَقى بِهِ رَوضَةَ الفُتونِ وَبلا

    مُستَرسِلا فَيَنبُتُ الشَوقَ كُلَّ حينِ

    With them it waters enchantment's garden in a downpour,

    unceasing, so longing sprouts at every moment.

  14. جُرحُكَ قَد راحَ في العِبادِ

    بادِ بِلا قَصاص

    The wound you inflict has become, among people,

    plain to see, without retribution.

  15. إِن دُمتَ بِالتيهِ وَالمِعادِ

    عادِ وَلا مَناص

    If you persist in pride, the time of return

    comes round, and there is no escape.

  16. صُحتُ بِعَينَيكَ ذا اِجتِهادِ

    هادِ إِلى الخَلاص

    I cried out, by your two eyes, with earnest effort,

    guiding toward deliverance.

  17. وَلا تَأمَنوا فاتِرَ العُيونِ أَصلا

    أَن يُقتَلا فَالرُمحُ ذو شِدَّةٍ وَلينِ

    And never feel safe from one with languid eyes,

    lest someone be slain: a spear is both stiff and supple.

  18. ريمٌ رَمى القَلبَ عَن كَناسِ

    ناسِ إِلّا المَطال

    A gazelle shot the heart from its covert,

    forgetful of everything but delay.

  19. صَلني وَكُن ياقَضيبَ آسِ

    آسي داءَ الخَبال

    Grant me union and be, O myrtle bough,

    a healer of the malady of madness.

  20. ما صَحَّ بِالنَصِّ وَالقِياسِ

    ياسي مِنَ الوِصال

    Neither textual proof nor analogy has established

    my despair of union.

  21. وَبِاللَهِ يا خَي إِن لَم تَجيني بِاللَهِ

    وَقُلتَ لا وَإِن حَنَثَت إِلّا في يَميني

    And by God, my brother, if you do not come to me—by God—

    and say 'No,' I have broken only my oath.