1. أبعد لقاي دونك كلَّ قفرٍ

    يعزُّ الشخص فيه أن يُلاقى

    After crossing every wilderness on the way to you,

    where a person can scarcely be encountered,

  2. وإعمالي إليك به المطايا

    وقد ضرب الظلام له رواقا

    and driving my riding camels through it toward you,

    when darkness had pitched its canopy over it,

  3. ورفضي النوم إلا أن تراني

    أعانق واسط الكور اعتناقا

    and forsaking sleep, save when you would see me

    clasping the camel-saddle's pommel in a tight embrace,

  4. تسوق بنا الحداة فليس ندري

    أشوقاً كان ذلك أم سياقا

    the camel-drivers urging us on, so we could not tell

    whether that was longing or their driving—

  5. أُصادف ضَرَّة المعروف شَكرَى

    لديك ولا أذوق لها فُواقا

    do I find kindness's rival-wife, full-uddered,

    with you, and taste no moment's respite from her?

  6. ففي استِ أمِّ الذي استرعاك خيلاً

    وأنت تقل أن ترعى عَناقا

    So, up the arse of the mother of him who entrusted you with horses,

    when you are too lowly even to tend a she-kid!

  7. وخولك الصهيل وكان منه

    كثيراً أن يسمِّعك النهاقا

    And he granted you neighing, though it would have been, on his part,

    more than enough to let you hear braying.

  8. غدا يعلو الجياد وكان يعلو

    إذا ما استفره السِبتَ الرقاقا

    He now mounts fine horses, though once he mounted

    thin tanned leather, when he chose his finest mounts.

  9. أعِنَّتُها الشسوعُ فإن عراها

    حِفاءُ الكدِّ أنعلها طراقا

    Their reins were sandal-thongs; and if they were worn

    bare by toil, he shod them with layered soles.

  10. فزُوِّج بعد فقر منه نعمى

    أراني الله صُبحتها الطلاقا

    So, after his poverty, he was wedded to prosperity;

    may God let me see her morning bring divorce!