1. Do you pine for Sallu or has the mention of him
Made the hours of this night seem like him to you?

2. Is this lingering fragrance from the direction of Ramma
Or have your eyelids been keeping watch for him?

3. Was it a breeze from her land that blew by
Or is it just that the air here bears her scent?

4. Yes, I pine for Sallu and the memory of our days together
Oh, for the days gone by with their sighs!

5. It’s not that Sallu or Ramma when you look
But my soul has made its home in grieving for him

6. I love the lightning flashing in his direction
And adore the wind blowing for his sake

7. I had but a single quick glance from her
That deliberately shot its arrow into my heart, piercing it

8. I foolishly thought that the armor of patience
Would protect him from what I had feared

9. O beloved friends in Nejd, with your life
Can the ardent lover attain what he yearns for?

10. I implore you by our ancient pact—have mercy
On a last gasp, all that remains of me

11. Do you think my tears fall asleep
While my heart is assuaged of its sorrows?

12. So my eye was hurt and my mind unsettled
And God was the Reckoner, mine and yours

13. O judges of love—be gentle with a wretched lover,
If not for the shoots of patience, he’d have no complaints

14. Won’t you take pity on one once high now abased by love
Who never consented to disgrace but for it!

15. And a harsh beloved who does not know
The worth of my misery—not with the blood of the ardent has she tinted him!

16. I blame not, neither your eyes that have wounded my tears
Nor you, whom I meet with that blame

17. Leave me to my ailments—my soul is unblemished
Perhaps the cure will pain the doctor more!

18. Two companions of mine from Nejd—with your love, cleave
Open the fragrant southerly breeze—did it perfume his cloak?

19. And did it drag its train on the cheeks of the fevered
Proffering its necklaces and bracelets as gifts?

20. Oh won’t someone find me a way back to Nejd
The tears of lovers have watered it, giving it life!

21. Their souls never ceased disclosing to the morning breezes
Secrets at nightfall and dusk all around