1. My friend, pass by the abode of Shunbāʾ, daughter of goodness,
And a quarter inhabited by gentle doves.

2. The evening came and erased its vestiges
With the breath of a southern wind and storms.

3. It moved onward across the bare rocks of its valley,
Where storms blew with furniture laden.

4. After life it became desolate ruins
Where the thread of ostriches mingled with goats wandering freely.

5. When I see Shunbāʾ sometimes inhabiting it
And her neighbors amidst luxuriant vegetation.

6. Their roaming wives hunt hearts
With languid deep black eyes of flexible waists.

7. They are bent over branches as if they are
Bunches of grapes or sessile cymes.

8. They wander through its branches
Whether released or led by a halter.

9. They avoid a barren rugged land whose vegetation
Is a torment with branches enticingly kissable.

10. Like the sand dunes gleaming with high peaks
Beneath a downpour at the end of night.

11. When she smiles, you say it is the unveiling of a cloud
Whose lightning is hidden behind a cheek flexing with joy.

12. As if the pulp of musk were mixed with its taste
And the phial of scent sprinkled with cloves newly picked.

13. With claret of fermented wine as if when undiluted
Its red sourness were water strained through a filter.

14. She walks on two gray robes feeding them
Like the bellowing of rivers amidst a smooth plain.

15. One of the lovely houris whose scarf
Is like the interlaced sweet basil amid oleander and streams.

16. Rarely bothered by talk, she is dignified in manner
Not speaking unless asked with utmost courtesy.

17. Sleepy-eyed, perfect in creation, returning at noon
Her tent pegs firm, her tent ropes tight.

18. She has made the heart’s passions and its thoughts
End at night though they started in early morn.

19. Yearning for her from afar kindles in me
A sickness needing no medicine to be cured.

20. She wanted to but could not speak so she gestured
To us and nodded her slender soft neck.

21. So I said to my friends wait awhile
And leave me, diverting yourselves elsewhere.

22. After a little they said, “We obey whatever you desire.
Indulge your passion and take your time.”

23. Today until night is yours if you wish. Approach them
And tomorrow morning you can be off again unhurried.

24. For we strive to satisfy the soul’s passions
And whatever you attempt in that regard, then do it.

25. We offered our mounts for your pleasure and held them back.
Today they are at your disposal but take your time.

26. When I saw it was foolish and ignorant
To confine her spirit that entrusted itself to me.

27. I said, “Go your ways. Meeting her
Is like pilgrims converging after a year’s time.”

28. To mention Shunbāʾ while so far away
Is folly, even if we come together for awhile.

29. If you are distant, it makes the heart anxious
And if you draw near, there are obstacles upon obstacles.

30. If a gossip speaks of her I must answer but then dismiss him
And if a slanderer attacks I must ward him off then banish him.

31. If you are absent I should not care and if you come near I should not join you
And if you distance I cannot be patient and if you approach I would be shackled.

32. If you seek affection from me I would grant it
But if you wanted what was already yours I would pretend not to notice.

33. Enough! If you were to weep my overflowing heart,
Weep for Shunbāʾ, O heart, and exert yourself!

34. Awaken! You are weeping for one who refuses you
Out of miserliness, so change your nature!

35. My heart had almost given up hope of her, and whoever
Is distanced and estranged for long becomes confused.

36. Yet to meet her again after an absence
Returns an illness not yet gone.

37. If only you knew how many lively youths,
I forbade from marrying but for you I hurried.

38. I prevented them all till there appeared to them
Morning visitors of noble lineage at dawn unveiled.

39. They lean on staffs as if they are slices
Of sapling or uprooted trunks.

40. So slender the travel made them shoeless
Without sandals or soles not yet strapped.

41. And they all became recognizable to the eye
Drowsy, turbans loosened and twisted.

42. Upon crumbling ruins with distances unsafe,
Exposed to attacks with no defenses readied.

43. You see whale carcasses as if they are
Fish newly dead upon fresh flowing water.

44. I wanted to meet you, O gentle one, and passion
Ever burdens the spirit of youth.

45. So distance yourself a little, my gentle one,
For I will abandon passion to preserve my honor.

46. My honor refused to be violated
And I wield a sharp sword and mighty recent glory.

47. Remaining by God’s leave not one to flee
A subduer of all places where I settle.

48. The tribes of Maʿadd acknowledged we are their best
For the seeker of glory or guest heavy laden.

49. Silent about praising but eloquent against slander
Judges of equitable truth in every gathering.

50. Their ally to an impregnable fortress and their neighbor
With lofty glorious pride not submissive or disgraced.

51. And among us when the blows of fate deal harshly
As fortunes shift and time is ever changing.

52. For the debtor there are helpers and for truth there is a champion
And for truth there are followers and for war there are ready warriors.

53. For good there are ample deeds and for glory there is an uplifter
And for praise there are aides and for steeds there are racers.

54. We storm the citadels of those we combat while our citadel
Is unassailable, its garrison never forced open.

55. We subdue those we fight while our kin
Are unyielding leaders never subjugated.

56. We tear out the fangs of the enemy while our own fangs
Are hardened steel whose sharpness was never blunted.

57. They are my forefathers, my glory, and my stronghold
To them, O gentle one, I repair so ask which stronghold!