1. فَتَكَ اللحظَ وصَالا

    إذ تمنّيت وصَالا

    The glance slew and assailed,

    when I longed for union.

  2. ودنا الحاجب يرمي

    دون ما رُمتُ نبالا

    And the eyebrow drew near, shooting

    arrows to bar what I sought.

  3. وخطا خطي قدٍّ

    فسبى روحاً ومالا

    And a spear-like figure strode,

    then captured a soul and swayed.

  4. وتنثني سمهرياً

    فسطا ثم دلالا

    And she bends like a slender spear

    that strikes there with coy grace.

  5. ودجا الشعر فلولا

    بارق الثغر تلالا

    And the hair grew dark; were it not

    for the mouth's gleam that sparkled,

  6. لرأى الصبّ هُداه

    من دياجيه ضلالا

    the lover would have mistaken his guidance

    for error because of its deep darkness.

  7. يا مَهاة الحُسن مهلاً

    إن صبر الصبّ زالا

    O oryx of beauty, be gentle!

    The lover's patience is indeed gone.

  8. أوجد الوجدُ ضناه

    بجوى في القلب جالا

    Longing has brought on his wasting illness,

    through burning anguish that roamed his heart.

  9. هل له بالوصل وعد

    أم يرى ذاك مُحالا

    Has he a promise of union,

    or does he deem that impossible?

  10. فعديه ودعيه

    في النّوى يرجو نوالا

    So promise him, and leave him

    in separation, hoping for a boon.