1. Our neighbors will move out tomorrow
And the house will be even more desolate the day after

2. When she took the road of parting
With the caravan, their destination was far off

3. The cameleers hurried their camels
When she resisted being driven away

4. There my heart was consoled
Or else it perished in their tracks

5. So I'm not the first whose house
Departed, and so solace comes later

6. I persevered and kept going until I knew
Where the springs and meadows were

7. And I tried it out until I understood
What I long for and what makes me happy

8. After my hair turned white with sorrow
A lover called me, his neck bent

9. And an eye that entices and calls a young man
To what it leaves for the young man, a guide

10. That one the girl escorted
To the wall, my heart was intent on her

11. She says, and a messenger from among them
Insisted at dawn the next day on leaving

12. "Won't you escort us tonight
To fulfill a wish or promise?"

13. So I said, "Yes, for you I have little
Energy left in my mount when it is exhausted."

14. So go back to her and say:
"Tomorrow evening is your appointed time"

15. And the sign of that is you'll hear
When I come reciting poetry

16. So we quickly departed, and passion
Led us to her as a guide

17. But when we approached the barking of the dogs
There was no light or living being not asleep

18. We avoided the settlement until
The fire in it had its last glow

19. And they slept, so we sent a reciter
Into the camp, hoping he would recite

20. So she stood up and I said, “The image
Of a sun has appeared, escorted by good fortune,”

21. And she came gently with a neck
Trembling from fear, its insides shuddering

22. And she wiped tears of sorrow
On her cheek, made wet by flowing tears

23. Saying, showing grief for us
Grief I showed, though showing it made it worse

24. “Because of my misery I clung to you
And I had a place with you”

25. An Iraqi woman, and passion makes me forget
Whether it takes me to Mecca or rescues me