1. O you who yearn for the tents of Naqa,
Ease your heart from that anxiety,

2. For the tents are filled with a flock
That may deceive you if you aspire.

3. Do not arouse them to temptations
At which even lions shudder in fear.

4. And avoid their bewitching glance
For long has my cloak been torn by their claws.

5. And if it is said the caravan survived, say
However did those roads find safety?

6. O archers of life, forgiveness upon you
For the blood of mine you shed that day,

7. You did not intend it, but it was fate
That brought the time and a foregone decree,

8. And diversions that met a chance
To kill the youth and left him lying dead.

9. Ah! After you my aching eyelids
Complain that my cheeks are drowning.

10. And a heart desolate whenever
I hoped it would stop pulsating for you.

11. And a spirit I never dared to place
My hand upon, fearing it would ignite.

12. What star did my eyes observe
Herding, that does not roam the horizon?

13. And what eye did I wear out for you
That did not wear out sleeplessness for you?

14. O blamers! Why are you not calmed
From hearts that have kept us restless?

15. What more do you want to torture them
After they have melted for you in passion?

16. Our people, be content with your charm
And for God's sake cease your allure.

17. And have mercy in the darkness of night on one
Who passes the night shedding tears that drench the darkness.

18. Give us fulfillment from you, even if
Just an apparition of you were to pass by.

19. And promise us a meeting with you
For many of you are oft-remembered.

20. Had we feared injustice from our neighbors
We would have sought justice before we parted.

21. And now we live on remnants
Of what we once drank in gulps.

22. So God watered the evenings of ardour
And ardour is the most generous rain.

23. We were granted it as our livelihood
Rarely attained by those granted.

24. Neither arrows nor goods came from you
They are the most murderous arrows aimed.

25. As for the adornments of Najd, we will recount them,
They have given us vast room for passion.

26. Life after you is not sweet to us
Since you left and wellbeing departed.

27. So who will inform us of news
And inform us truthfully?

28. Does Babylon know we are a band
Who make a charm of charms a remedy?

29. We carve the verse on our ribs
Thus protecting us from all that must be avoided,

30. With the supreme authority of the Minister
Before whom magic bows when it speaks.