كم ذا تموُّه بالشعبين والعلم

كم ذا تموُّه بالشعبين والعلم

الأمرُ أوضحُ من نار على علم

الأمرُ أوضحُ من نار على علم

How long will you dissemble by invoking al-Shiʿbayn and al-ʿAlam?

How much you feigned ignorance with the tribes and the banner

The matter is clearer than a fire upon a mountain.

The matter is clearer than fire on a banner

وكم تعبر عن سلْع وكاظمهِ

وكم تعبر عن سلْع وكاظمهِ

وعن زرود وجيران بذي سلم

وعن زرود وجيران بذي سلم

And how often do you speak of Salʿ and Kazima,

And how much you ask about Salwa and its governor

and of Zarud and neighbors at Dhu Salam?

And about Zarud and the people of peaceful Salm

ظللْتَ تسألُ عَن نجْدٍ وأنتَ بها

ظللْتَ تسألُ عَن نجْدٍ وأنتَ بها

وعَنْ تُهامَه هذا فِعْلُ مُتَّهم

وعَنْ تُهامَه هذا فِعْلُ مُتَّهم

You kept asking about Najd while you were in it,

You kept asking about Najd while you were in it

and about Tihama—this is the conduct of a suspect.

And about Tuhama - this is the act of one accused

في الحَيّ حيّ سِوى لَيْلي فتَسألهْ

في الحَيّ حيّ سِوى لَيْلي فتَسألهْ

عنها سؤالك وهم جر للعَدم

عنها سؤالك وهم جر للعَدم

Is there anyone alive in the camp besides Layla for you to ask

In Al-Hayy, ask someone alive other than Layli

about her? Your question is a delusion leading to nothingness.

Ask her as your question is nonsense

حَدِّثْ بِما شئْتَ عَنها فَهي راضيةٌ

حَدِّثْ بِما شئْتَ عَنها فَهي راضيةٌ

بالحالَتَين معاً والصمتِ والكلم

بالحالَتَين معاً والصمتِ والكلم

Say whatever you wish about her, for she is content

Speak of it as you wish, for she is pleased

with both states alike—with silence and with speech.

With both silence and speech alike