أَفَاطِمَ مَهْلًا بَعْضَ هَذَا التَّدَلُّلِ
وَإِنْ كُنْتِ قَدْ أَزْمَعْتِ صَرْمِي فَأَجْمِلِي
“O Fāṭimah, gently—moderate some of this aloof coquetry. And if you have truly resolved to cut me off, then let the parting at least be gracious.”
The verse makes two related requests: first, moderation in the beloved’s aloofness, and second, a gracious manner of departure if separation is settled. The shift introduces an appeal to restraint amid emotional distress.
Al-tadallul conveys coy self-indulgence or aloofness in this context. Ṣarmī means cutting off the relationship; fa-ajmilī does not concern physical beauty but behaving fairly or graciously.