1. في قامة الغصن إذ مرّت حلا التلف

    لمُغرم قَتله الأحبابُ قد ألفوا

    As she passed with a branch's stature, death grew sweet

    For a lovesick man whom the beloveds had grown used to killing.

  2. أمسى وقامته كالدال مُذ عبثت

    منه بلام وياء في الهوى ألف

    He ended up with his stature like the letter dāl, since she toyed

    With his lām and yāʾ in love—she, an alif.

  3. ماست دلالاً وسامت قلبه صلفاً

    سوء العذاب ومنها حبّذا الصلف

    She swayed coquettishly and haughtily subjected his heart

    To cruel torment; and from her, how welcome is haughtiness!

  4. للقلب عدل إليها بعد معرفة

    فكيف عنها مع الوضعين ينصرف

    The heart turned toward her after coming to know her;

    So how, with both conditions, can it turn away from her?

  5. تظل تنصب كسر القلب جازمة

    برفع وصلي ونحو الهجر تنعطف

    She keeps inflicting heartbreak, firmly resolved

    To end my union with her, and toward estrangement she turns.

  6. تقضي بقتلي وهي الخصم عابثة

    والخصم إذ صار يقضي كيف أنتصف

    She playfully decrees my death, though she herself is the adversary;

    And when the adversary becomes the judge, how can I gain redress?

  7. أكاد أنكر حُبّاً تدّعيه على

    قلبي ولكن لها بالحذق أعترف

    I almost deny the love she claims against

    My heart; yet I acknowledge her skill.