1. الصبُّ إلى الجمال مائل

    والحبُّ لصدقه دلائل

    The lovesick lover inclines toward beauty;

    And love has proofs of its sincerity.

  2. والدمعُ لسائلي جوابٌ

    إن روجع سائل بسائل

    And tears are an answer to my questioner,

    If a questioner is answered with something flowing.

  3. والحسنُ على القلوب والٍ

    والقلب إلى الحبيب وائل

    And beauty rules over hearts;

    And the heart seeks refuge with the beloved.

  4. لو ساعدَ مَنْ أحبُّ سعدٌ

    ما حالَ عن الحبيب حائل

    If fortune favored the one I love,

    No barrier would keep me from the beloved.

  5. يا عاذلي إليك عني

    لا تقربْ ساحتي العواذل

    O my reproacher, away from me!

    Let no reproaching women approach my courtyard.

  6. ذا نازل كمثل ظبي

    يشقي بلحظه المنازل

    Here is a visitor, like a gazelle,

    Who torments his opponent with his glance.

  7. ما بين جفونه حسامٌ

    مخارقُه له حمائل

    What lies between his eyelids is a keen sword;

    His wiles serve it as sword-belts.

  8. والسيفُ يُبت ثم ينبو

    واللحظُ يُطبق المفاصل

    And the sword severs, then glances off;

    And the glance cleaves the joints.

  9. والسهمُ يُصيب ثم يُخطى

    واللحظُ يمر في المقاتل

    And the arrow hits, then misses;

    And the glance passes through the vital spots.

  10. مهلاً فدمي له حلالٌ

    ما أقبلُ فيه قولَ قائل

    Gently! My blood is lawful for him to shed;

    I accept no one's word concerning him.

  11. إن أقصدني فذاك قصدي

    أوجدّ لني فلا أجادل

    If he strikes me dead, that is my aim;

    Or if he lays me low, I will not dispute.

  12. يا حسن طلوعه علينا

    والسكر بمعطفيه مائل

    How lovely his rising upon us!

    And drunkenness sways in his sides.

  13. ظمآن مُخفّف الأعالي

    ريَّان مثقل الأسافل

    Thirsty, slender in his upper parts;

    Well-watered, heavy in his lower parts.

  14. قد نمَّ به شذا الغوالي

    اذ هبَّ ونمت الغلائل

    The fragrance of rich perfumes has betrayed him,

    When he stirred, and the thin robes betrayed him.

  15. والطيبُ مُنبّه عليه

    من كانَ عن العيان غافل

    And perfume makes him known to

    Anyone who was heedless of the sight.

  16. والفتحُ محرّك إليه

    من كان مسكن البلابل

    And the opening draws toward him

    Anyone whose inner turmoil had been stilled.

  17. والسحرُ رسولُ مقلتيه

    ما أقربَ عهدَه ببابل

    And magic is the envoy of his eyes:

    How recent its acquaintance with Babylon!

  18. والروضُ يعير وجنتيه

    ورداً كهواي غير حائل

    And the garden lends his cheeks

    Roses, like my love, unfading.

  19. واللينُ يهزُ معطفيه

    كالغصنِ تهزُّه الشمائل

    And suppleness sways his sides,

    Like a bough swayed by the north winds.

  20. والكأس تلوح في يديه

    كالنجم بأسعد المنازل

    And the cup gleams in his hands,

    Like a star in the most auspicious of stations.

  21. يُسقيك بريقه مُداماً

    ما أملحَ ساقياً مواصل

    He gives you his saliva as wine to drink;

    How charming a cupbearer who grants intimacy!

  22. يُسبيك برقة الحواشي

    عِشقاً ولطافة الشمائل

    He takes you captive with his delicate contours,

    In love, and with the gentleness of his ways.

  23. ما أحسن ما وجدت خداً

    إذ نجم صباي غير آفل

    How lovely the cheek I found,

    When the star of my youth had not yet set.