1. أما وَلواحِظِ الُمقَلِ

    وَعِطفِ القَامَةِ الثَّمِلِ

    Indeed, by the glances of the eyes,

    and the figure's drunken sway,

  2. وما صانَت مراشِفُهُ

    من الجِريالِ والعَسَل

    and what his lips have preserved

    of red wine and honey,

  3. وحقِّ نواظِر غَنيَت

    عن التَّكحيل والكَحَل

    and by the sacred right of eyes that have no need

    of kohl-painting or naturally dark rims,

  4. وحرمَةِ عَهد كاظِمَةٍ

    وليلَتنا على الجبَلِ

    and by the sanctity of the pledge at Kāẓimah,

    and our night upon the mountain:

  5. لَقد أصبحتُ مشَغولاً

    عن الغزلانِ والغَزالِ

    I have indeed become distracted

    from gazelles and the gazelle

  6. بِحُبِّ مُهَفَّهف أَحوى

    كثيرٍ الصَّدِّ والَملَلِ

    by love for a slender, dusky beloved,

    much given to rebuffs and boredom.

  7. أَجل ألَحاظُ جَفنيهِ

    لمن يَهواهُ كالأَجلِ

    Yes, the glances of his eyelids

    are like death to whoever loves him.

  8. وإن ماست معاطِفُهُ

    فَغصن البانِ في خَجَلِ

    And if his form sways,

    then the bān-tree's branch is abashed.

  9. عَساهُ يزورُني فَلَقَد

    فُؤادي مِنهُ في شُغُلِ

    May he visit me, for indeed

    my heart is preoccupied with him.