قالتshe said لمwhy عفتyou forsook معdespite دعوىa claim of الغرامpassionate love بناfor us
قالت لم عفت مع دعوى الغرام بنا
غزلlove poetry التغزّلamorous praise فيof حسنيmy beauty بلاwithout سببa reason
غزل التغزّل في حسني بلا سبب
She said, “Why, despite claiming passionate love for us, have you forsaken
She said, "How can you claim to love me
love poetry celebrating my beauty, without cause?”
Yet not compose poems praising my beauty?"
فقلتso I said حبّكlove of you ليfor me شغلٌan occupation غنيتI had no need بهthrough it
فقلت حبّك لي شغلٌ غنيت به
عمّاof what يقرّبنيdraws me closer منto حرفةthe craft of الأدبliterature
عمّا يقرّبني من حرفة الأدب
So I said, “Love of you is my occupation; through it I have no need
I said, "My love for you fills me
of what draws me closer to the craft of letters.”
More than composing idle verse ever could."