1. قل هكذا مد الشباك

    بيني وما بين الملاك

    Say: spread the nets like this

    between me and the angel.

  2. أسلاك أوراق تلق

    ف بين تلك وبين ذاك

    Paper strands—catch them

    between that one and the other,

  3. من لازوردي ومن

    يقق وأصفر في اشتباك

    some azure, and some

    pure white and yellow, intertwined.

  4. فكأنما أقواس أق

    زاح بها اتصلت يداك

    So they seemed like rainbow arches

    through which your two hands were joined.

  5. فتخالها فوق الموا

    طي بين أرجلنا شراك

    So you take them, above the floor,

    for snares between our feet.

  6. مثنى على نغم المثا

    ني الراقصون على هواك

    In pairs, to the music of the lute strings,

    the dancers move as you please.

  7. قامت تخاصر تربها

    لتريك أغصان الأرك

    She rose, clasping her companion at the waist,

    to show you the branches of the arak trees.

  8. هذي فتاتك قل له

    ولها فقل هذا فتاك

    'This is your girl,' tell him;

    and to her say, 'This is your young man.'

  9. رقصت فأرقصت النهي

    رقصت ولكن مع سواك

    She danced, and set minds dancing;

    she danced, but with someone other than you.

  10. فاقدح زنادك يا عبي

    د الله وارمه من رماك

    So strike your flint, O Ubayd

    Allah, and shoot at whoever shot at you.