1. She wraps herself in a loose cloak, her waist so slender,
Sheltering with the tribe where an-Nu'man's valley lies.

2. Is not a glance from you but little, if you glanced at me?
Nay, from you nothing's little, so high you rank in my eyes.

3. O you whose soul's most dear, above all dear souls to me,
Of pure-hearted friends we have none like you, close and wise,

4. Who hid your love from us - no enemy discovered it,
No stranger gained access or spied out our secret prize.

5. Shall I not visit where fear of foes gives me no rest,
When longing for you holds me, and the road to you lies clear?

6. My heart's unease continues while you are thus,
Moon of my soul, all smiles withheld and meetings denied.

7. O paradise of life, O goal of all I wish and want,
O light of my eye, is there a way to you for me?

8. Many's the enemy, and my woes are long,
While my strength with you is little, and far is my place to be.

9. When I came, it was with a weak excuse,
So I voiced my excuses - how can I speak them now?

10. Not every day for me is there need, my land, of you,
Not every day have I a messenger to you I can allow.

11. When there is none I can send, the zephyr's breath
From me to you will be messenger enough, I vow.

12. O comfort of my eye, would that you could be ours,
The substitute for all goodness, proven and tried!

13. Ask if God permits a Muslim to be killed, unavenged.
By other than blood-money - or is there a blood-debt owed by you?

14. By God, if you were mine all time, till time itself grew cold,
I'd die, no cure could heal me - so strong my passions, so true.

15. Pages of reproach I've folded away to unleash some day -
Unfolded, one day, the reproaches will be plenty and new.

16. Regrets stir my heart - I travel with my clan,
And for you no raid ends with you numbered among the slain.

17. So do not take my sin on yourself; you are weak,
And the burden of my blood on the Last Day will be heavy to bear.