1. يا سائق الجمال

    زُر مظهر الجمال

    O driver of the camels,

    Visit the manifestation of beauty.

  2. وقف لديه وانظر

    سلطان ذي الجلال

    And stand beside him and behold

    The might of the Lord of Majesty.

  3. ترى هناك ريما

    مهذب الخصال

    There you will see a gazelle,

    Refined in character.

  4. ريم برمي ينبل

    من طرفه القتال

    A gazelle who shoots arrows

    From his murderous gaze.

  5. حذار يا ابن ودي

    من طعنة الغزال

    Beware, O son of my affection,

    Of the gazelle's thrust.

  6. مهفهف غزانا

    برمحه العسال

    A slender-waisted one assailed us

    With his quivering spear.

  7. له رقيق خصر

    كالغصن الميال

    He has a slender waist,

    Like a swaying branch.

  8. آه على ليالي

    انعمن بالوصال

    Ah, for nights

    That blessed us with union!

  9. قصرن والتنائي

    يطول الليالي

    They were brief, while separation

    Lengthens the nights.

  10. ورب ركب وجد

    مقلقل الرحال

    And many a caravan of longing,

    Jostling its saddles,

  11. سرى وطار يعدو

    في السهل والجبال

    Journeyed by night and flew along, racing,

    Across the plain and the mountains,

  12. يريد حي ظبي

    سطا على الريبال

    Seeking the encampment of a gazelle

    Who pounced upon the lion.

  13. جبينه تبدا

    كطالع الهلال

    His brow appeared

    Like the rising crescent.

  14. والجفن منه كم قد

    يسول بالفصال

    And how often his eyelid

    Has enticed me with parting.

  15. وثغره كم يجلو

    كاس الرحيق حالي

    And how often his mouth reveals

    A cup of sweet, pure wine.

  16. ركب سرى كسيري

    وحاله كحالي

    A caravan traveled by night as I did,

    And its plight was like my own.

  17. يطير ركيب قلبي

    الى الحبيب الغالي

    My heart's little caravan flies

    To the cherished beloved.

  18. والدمع مني ابدى

    الياقوت واللآلي

    And the tears I shed revealed

    Rubies and pearls.

  19. الله بي فجسمي

    قد صار كالخيال

    For God's sake, spare me, for my body

    Has become like a phantom.

  20. يا بدر طال هجري

    اكفف عن المطال

    O full moon, my estrangement has lasted long;

    Stop putting me off.

  21. وارفق فان صبري

    عنك من المحال

    And be gentle: for me to bear

    Your absence is impossible.

  22. اما كفاك ذلي

    يا كثير الدلال

    Has my abasement not sufficed you,

    O you so full of coyness?

  23. انظر لسقم حالي

    ودمعي السيال

    Look upon my ailing state

    And my streaming tears.

  24. وداوني حنانا

    بالقرب يا غزالي

    And heal me tenderly

    With nearness, O my gazelle.

  25. وخذ رقيق شعر

    من السحر الحلال

    And accept delicate verse,

    A kind of lawful enchantment.

  26. كأن سامعيه

    من سادة الرجال

    As though its listeners,

    From among the noblest men,

  27. للطفه سكارى

    مرقرق الجريال

    Were, through its subtle grace, drunk

    On shimmering red wine.

  28. كم ذا اقول وجدا

    والقلب غير سالي

    How often I say this in yearning,

    While my heart finds no solace!

  29. حباه ذاب كلي

    وقد نما بلبالي

    Ah, love! My whole being has melted,

    And my anguish has grown.

  30. فالدمع بانهمال

    والنار باشتعال

    So the tears pour down,

    And the fire blazes.

  31. ابعدت عن دلال

    هجرت عن تعالى

    You kept your distance out of coyness,

    You forsook me out of pride.

  32. متى اليك ادنو

    وقد يسر بالي

    When shall I draw near to you,

    And my mind be gladdened?

  33. وانت يا رفيقي

    لطفا اجب سؤالي

    And you, O my companion,

    Kindly answer my plea.

  34. سقت الجمال اسرع

    لأخضر التلال

    You have driven the camels—hurry

    To the greenest of hills,

  35. وودني لحبي

    يا سائق الجمال

    And take me to my beloved,

    O driver of the camels.