1. متى يا سعد تسعدنا الليالي

    بوصل بعد هذا الانفصال

    When, O Saʿd, will the nights gladden us

    With reunion after this separation,

  2. وتبتهج العيون اذا ترآت

    لها من حاجر خضر التلال

    And the eyes rejoice when there appear

    Before them the green hills of Hajir,

  3. وترسل في الربى نظرا حديداً

    لتبصر فيه سارحة الغزال

    And cast a keen gaze over the uplands

    To behold through it the grazing gazelles,

  4. وتنشرح الصدور وقد تبدت

    قباب الحي ضافية الظلال

    And breasts expand with joy as there appear

    The camp's domed tents with their ample shade,

  5. وأقمار الحمى تزهو بطرز

    به اندمجت افانين الجمال

    And the sanctuary's moons shine in a pattern

    In which beauty's varied forms have merged?

  6. من الزهر الغطارفة استقرت

    بظل فنائهم زهر المعالي

    They are radiant noble lords; there have taken root

    In their courtyard's shade the blossoms of excellence.

  7. الا يا حادي الركبان ليلا

    وجمر الوجد يلهب بالجمال

    Hark, O driver of the caravan by night,

    While yearning's embers blaze within the camels,

  8. اخذت بركبك الساري قلوبا

    تهادت في السهول وفي الجبال

    You have taken hearts with your night-faring caravan,

    That swayed gently through the plains and mountains.

  9. حكت صاع العزيز مخباآت

    وقد ملئت غراما في الرحال

    They resembled al-ʿAziz's measuring cup, concealed,

    And filled with ardent love within the baggage.

  10. بعيشك ان وصلت الحي صبحا

    فخل الدمع يهدر بانهمال

    By your life, if you reach the camp at dawn,

    Then let the tears roar forth in torrents,

  11. وخل العيس تمرح عن سرور

    برحب الحي طالقة العقال

    And let the pale camels frolic for joy

    In the camp's open grounds, freed from their hobbles.

  12. وضع منا القلوب على ثراه

    ولوهى للنوى ذات اشتعال

    And lay our hearts upon its soil,

    Even though they are aflame from separation.

  13. وقل يا قوم تلك قلوب قوم

    رماها الهجر بالداء العضال

    And say, 'O people, those are the hearts of folk;

    Estrangement has struck them with incurable illness.

  14. عسى تبدو لها نفحات رفق

    وذاك الهجر يبدل بالوصال

    May breezes of kindness come to them,

    And may that estrangement be replaced with reunion.'

  15. ورب الراقصات بسفح سلع

    ولطف شؤن هاتيك الخلال

    And by the Lord of the dancing camels at Salʿ's foot,

    And by the subtle grace of those qualities' workings,

  16. لنا للحي دمع مستهل

    يفيض مرقرق الماء الزلال

    We have tears for the camp, pouring down,

    Overflowing with shimmering, crystal-clear water.

  17. وما من نقطة تنهل الا

    وفيها للاحبة عرض حال

    And not a single drop falls but

    Within it lies an account of our plight for the beloved.

  18. فاسعفنا برأفتهم وانعش

    جسوما اصبحت مثل التلال

    So aid us with their compassion, and revive

    Bodies that have become like hills.

  19. فكل متاعب الايام وهم

    اذا سمحت بقربهم الليالي

    For all the hardships of the days are an illusion

    When the nights grant us nearness to them.