1. She left, leaving my heart full of passion
My strength faded, and she gestured a farewell with her fingers

2. A cheek like a full moon over the branch of a palm tree
Swaying gently over the sand dunes

3. Eyes filled with a clear, wistful smile
Like a meadow watered with spring rain

4. You tempted me with your gentle grace and have always
Dazzled me with every graceful movement

5. When we parted, the stab of separation pierced me
Yet I was stabbed by nothing but passion itself

6. Your tears in the darkness were transformed
Into beams of light piercing the gloom

7. When the cupbearer handed me the wine on the day fate turned against me
The tears in my eyes doubly intoxicated me

8. They left the mind of one deep in his cups
And set my verses over the most melodious of poems

9. None sang songs like theirs after they had gone
Only the songs of the forlorn remain

10. Oh home, may your Lord be generous to you
And may two travelers now wander your ruins

11. Stop remembering those who left you and enjoyed life
For fleeting worldly pleasures last but an instant

12. The meadow still dotted with flowers
Its chamomile glows atop the sandhills

13. The bright sands that blush like a cheek
Coquetting among other beauties

14. Of glittering white, saffron yellow, earthy ochre
Vibrant green, and red the color of blood

15. The blossoms smile over the land and bloom open
Hyacinths burst into flower on every side

16. The breeze of solitude sighs its secret
As the birds sing joyfully in the branches

17. As though the clouds rained down perfume on the earth
And the shower revived its dormant beauty

18. The beauty spot grew vivid on the cheek of Dairuz Zakki
Since the tattooist had marked every spot

19. With damsels, green garments trailing
Gazes pure, modest and demure

20. With eyelids like camphor that restore to youth
Fragile eyelids – gently closing doors

21. Then when their eyes flashed under cover
It was as though they smiled with eyes brimming with joy

22. Love notes passed constantly between them
As they sipped from kisses and drank deep from wine

23. When they swayed it was as though
The radiant dawn calmly embraced within them

24. It was as though those slender waists were friends
As eyes that never rested on a human

25. Their rivers burst forth with water
Joined to the vast and mighty Euphrates

26. Like mirrors in green brocade holders
Its sheen delights the eyes with its glow

27. Or silver spilt over turquoise land
Or pearl water swirling round coral

28. As though the ground still owed the sky debt
Outstanding since ancient times in April

29. The clouds its envoy, led by two eyes
She endows him, though she is firm, with her tears

30. His smile reveals pearl-like beauty
And gentle charms like wild roses

31. The clouds fell for her – her blossoms they watered
With life spirit that carried sweetest scent

32. And wrapped her boudoir in the light of a full moon
And strings of pearls and precious gems

33. So she was crowned by her gardens, and reigned
Over those meadows with all her splendor

34. When dawn lights up the day she is our second sun
If night draws her veil, by its light our horizon glows

35. And many’s the day I have killed by its moon
Cutting it up in careless joy while my youth remained

36. I have toyed with the pleasures of life to my heart’s content
With gallant lads from the house of radiant Najiya

37. Vying in glory and might should they gather as one
Endowed with riches or graced with eloquence whenever they spoke

38. A people who, when fate with evil eye spies on them
On the day of battle and the faces of steeds darken

39. When the sun blackens, the lightning crackles red
Over the braves with swords as white as jasmine

40. Night is the clashing of swords and the sparks that fly
Over the thick-boned skulls of warriors

41. They behead their enemies casually with their blades
Not fearing death but made hardy through long training

42. Though tribes may claim glory, to us belong two glories
Whenever mankind disputing superiority

43. We do not dread the days but rather because of our might
Afflictions and fate’s changing fortunes are feared

44. I have seen them going on night marches as though
Their faces and the lightning flashes were both bright

45. With the bloom of youth in their cheeks, captivating minds
With coquettish eyelashes and dimpled smiles

46. So radiant the full moons paled when he appeared
Shading the drooping boughs in flashes of light

47. He seemed the very spirit of beauty in his form
While either side of his cheeks seemed to bear a mark

48. He passed round goblets of golden wine
And his eyes, two brimming cups, circled all

49. As though in our gathering shone like planets
White Venus together with Jupiter

50. Ever since I have sipped that wine and kissed his cheek
If I fancy hearing a song, he sings to me

51. While for my heart there was no medicine
And I remained behind, abandoned, apart

52. The hand of passion hurls my soul into misery
While the hand of determination steals any happiness

53. And so love follows sorrow with bliss
Just as time follows hardship with comfort