Sol 6.1

  1. إِنّي وَأَوَّلَ ما كَلِفتُ بِحُبِّها

    عَجِبٌ وَهَل في الحُبِّ مِن مُتَعَجَّبِ

    Indeed, ever since I first became enthralled by love for her,

    I have been amazed—and is there any cause for wonder in love?

  2. نُعِتَ النِساءُ فَقُلتُ لَستُ بِمُبصِرٍ

    شَبهاً لَها أَبَداً وَلا بِمُقَرِّبِ

    Women were described, and I said, 'I see no

    likeness to her, ever, nor anything that comes close.'

  3. وَلَقَد تَرَكنَ حَزازَةً في قَلبِهِ

    مِنها بِحَقٍّ أَو حَديثِ المُهرِبِ

    And indeed they left a burning ache in his heart

    because of her, whether through truth or an exaggerator's tale.

  4. فَمَكَثنَ حيناً ثُمَّ قُلنَ تَوَجَّهَت

    لِلحَجِّ مَوعِدِها لِقاءُ الأَخشَبِ

    So they stayed awhile, then said, 'She has set out

    for the pilgrimage; her meeting-place is opposite al-Akhshab.'

  5. أَقبَلتُ أَنظُرُ ما زَعَمنَ وَقُلنَ لي

    وَالقَلبُ بَينَ مُصَدِّقٍ وَمُكَذِّبِ

    I came to see what they had claimed and told me,

    my heart wavering between belief and disbelief.

  6. فَلَقَيتُها تَمشي تَهادى مَوهِناً

    تَرمي الجِمارَ عَشِيَّةً في مَوكِبِ

    Then I met her walking with a swaying grace, late at night,

    casting pebbles in the evening amid a procession.

  7. غَرّاءُ يُعشي الناظِرينَ بَياضُها

    حَوراءُ في غَلواءِ عَيشٍ مُعجِبِ

    Radiant, her fair complexion dazzles those who gaze,

    dark-eyed, in the full flush of a delightful life.

  8. فَتَأَمَّلَت عَيناكَ فيكَ وَإِنَّما

    زَورُ المَنِيَّةِ لِاِبنِ آدَمَ يَصحَبِ

    Then your eyes gazed within you; and only

    death's visitation accompanies the son of Adam.

  9. إِنَّ الَّتي مِن أَرضِها وَسَمائِها

    جُلِبَت لِحَينِكَ لَيتَها لَم تُجلَبِ

    Indeed, she who from her land and her sky

    was brought for your doom—would that she had not been brought!