1. What stirred your heart the day they departed, with renewed grief and yearning?
Disheveled women who had neglected their kohl, henna, bathing and perfume.

2. With hair like my rain clouds in summer, flashing with lightning, clearing the darkness of night.
Except her whom my eye saw when they stopped, though I wish I’d never seen them.

3. Pale yellow like an oryx, bright complexioned under her veil like buttermilk.
With ankles exposed but covered by her gown, nothing hidden of her figure.

4. When she moves restlessly subtle messages run between her gestures.
They descended in the meadow amid acacias as evening came on, not staying in settlements.

5. Gliding like the course of planets, fearing where they might encounter habitations.
Among them a radiance like the rising sun substituting the wise with a precious gift of beauty.

6. Swaying like a branch when the west wind blows, coming from the direction of Yemen.
As though she emanates perfume from the holds of ships arriving from India across the Straits of Aden.

7. Her natural scent is of amber blended from the finest clay.
When invited to draw near they listen attentively, halting their steeds in array.

8. They stand deferential awaiting her command like Roman Christians before an idol.
Until they disappeared though my tearful eye kept following with unbroken gaze,

9. As if scattering pearls from paired musk glands when the tear ducts poured them forth.
I watched them continuously until a rash one approached from behind them, arousing the does from the thicket.

10. So I said, as one violent in passion rebuked me, “My heart is her hostage in love for as long as I live, and even so it remains unpledged.”
Would that God had tested her with my love though she objected, just as He tested me with love for her in days gone by.