أَلا طَرَقَت رُويمَةُ بَعدَ هَدءٍ

أَلا طَرَقَت رُويمَةُ بَعدَ هَدءٍ

تَخَطّى هَولَ أَنمارٍ وَأُسدِ

تَخَطّى هَولَ أَنمارٍ وَأُسدِ

Lo, Ruwayma came by night after a spell of quiet,

Has not the wild cow of Ruweimah wandered after calmness

Crossing the terrors of leopards and lions.

Beyond the terrors of leopards and lions?

تَجوسُ رِحالَنا حَتّى أَتَتنا

تَجوسُ رِحالَنا حَتّى أَتَتنا

طُروقاً بَينَ أَعرابِ وَجُندِ

طُروقاً بَينَ أَعرابِ وَجُندِ

She roamed through our encampments until she reached us,

It roams about our saddlebags until it came to us

Visiting by night among Bedouins and troops.

Amid Arabs and soldiers.

فَقالَت ما فعلتَ أَبا كَثيرٍ

فَقالَت ما فعلتَ أَبا كَثيرٍ

أَصَحَّ الودُّ أَم أَخلفتَ عَهدي

أَصَحَّ الودُّ أَم أَخلفتَ عَهدي

Then she said, "How have you fared, Abu Kathir?

It said, “What have you done with Abu Kathir?

Has love held true, or have you broken your pledge to me?"

Has friendship remained well or have you broken your vow?

كَأَنَّ المِسكَ ضُمَّ عَلى الخُزامى

كَأَنَّ المِسكَ ضُمَّ عَلى الخُزامى

إِلى أَحشائِها وَقَضيبَ رَندِ

إِلى أَحشائِها وَقَضيبَ رَندِ

As though musk had been gathered with lavender

As if musk were concealed on her leather bag

Into her bosom, along with a sprig of laurel.

And the staff of a willow wand.”

أَلا مَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي نُعيماً

أَلا مَن مُبلِغٌ عَنّي نُعيماً

فَسَوفَ يُجَرِّبُ الأخوانَ بَعدي

فَسَوفَ يُجَرِّبُ الأخوانَ بَعدي

Lo, who will carry a message from me to Nuaym?

Will not one convey on my behalf to Nu'aym

So he will put his friends to the test after me.

That he will surely try the brothers after me?

رَأَيتُكَ كالشُموسِ تُرى قَريباً

رَأَيتُكَ كالشُموسِ تُرى قَريباً

وَتَمنَعُ مَسحَ ناصيَةٍ وَخَدِّ

وَتَمنَعُ مَسحَ ناصيَةٍ وَخَدِّ

I found you like a restive horse, visible nearby,

I saw you like suns that seem near

Yet forbidding the stroking of forelock and cheek.

And forbid the wiping of a face and cheek.

فاني ان أَقَع بِكَ لا أُهَلِّل

فاني ان أَقَع بِكَ لا أُهَلِّل

كَوَقعِ السَيفِ ذي الأَثرِ الفِرِندِ

كَوَقعِ السَيفِ ذي الأَثرِ الفِرِندِ

For if I fall upon you, I will not flinch,

If I fall upon you I do not shout victory

Like the stroke of a sword bearing watered markings.

Like the fall of a sharpened, effective sword.

فَأَولى ثُمَّ أَولى ثُمَّ أَولى

فَأَولى ثُمَّ أَولى ثُمَّ أَولى

فَهَل لِلدَّرِ يُجلَبُ من مَردِّ

فَهَل لِلدَّرِ يُجلَبُ من مَردِّ

So woe to you, then woe, then woe!

Over and over, yes over and over, over and over,

So can milk, once brought forth, ever be returned?

Can a pearl be brought back from the returning place?