1. بجزع الحمى ظبي حمى ذلك الحمى

    يا أهل حما ذاك الحمى أنتم حما

    At the sanctuary's valley bend is a gazelle who guarded that sanctuary.

    O people of that sanctuary's refuge, you yourselves are a refuge.

  2. بقاني مناني مذ كلفت بعشقه

    بجو الحمى يحمي حماه لذا سما

    He kept me alive and gave me hopes ever since I became enthralled by love for him.

    In the sanctuary's open expanse he guards his refuge; thus he rose high.

  3. فيا ريح صب قد تقرح جسمه

    وواهي قلب ذاب من شدة الظما

    So, O breeze of a lovesick man whose body has grown ulcerated,

    and whose frail heart has melted from fierce thirst.

  4. ألا هل إلى وصل الحمى جبل رقا

    قليب الظبي فالشوق فيه مسوما

    Ah, is there, toward union with the sanctuary, a mountain climbed by

    the gazelle's little heart? For longing is branded within it.

  5. ألا ليت شعري هل حما ذلك الحمى

    بأم القرى أصبو إليه تألما

    Ah, would that I knew whether he guarded that sanctuary.

    In Umm al-Qura I yearn toward him, in pain.

  6. تلألأ جزع الغور من كل جانب

    ومن والسلع طيب به سلما

    The valley bend of al-Ghawr glittered on every side.

    And from—and al-Sal'—acacias are fragrant there [syntax unclear].

  7. فها عذبات الرند قضت بأسرها

    وها سلمت بالحجار لها رما

    So behold: the slender laurel branches have all perished.

    And behold, she was safe among the stones he threw toward her.

  8. نسيم الربى من نعمى هب يذيقنا

    طعام سلو الوصل فهو لها رسما

    The breeze of the hills blew from Na'ma, giving us a taste of

    the food of solace in union—for it is a trace of her.

  9. ألا أتلات الطرد محضرة الذرى

    وإن مر بالعسفان فهو أناثما

    Ah, the tamarisks [uncertain reading] of the chase, their summits brought forth.

    And if he passes through al-'Usfan, then he is [unclear word].

  10. مررت حمى الوراد كيما أرى وسا

    لأن به الأطلال والصبح قد عما

    I passed the sanctuary of the water-seekers, so that I might see [unclear word].

    For there are the ruined encampments, and dawn had spread over all.

  11. لجئت حجور الظبي والليل مسدل

    علي جناحا من خليص تسلما

    I sought the gazelle's sheltering bosoms, while night draped

    over me a wing it had received from Khulays.

  12. فجزت مرارا وقت سوق مغلق

    وصحت هناك للظباء المنعما

    So I passed through repeatedly while the market was closed,

    and cried out there to the favored gazelles.

  13. فكلمني قلبي هناك بقلبه

    وقال أتاك الحب تقدما

    Then my heart spoke to me there through his heart,

    and said, 'The beloved has come to you, advancing.'

  14. فملت على الدكناء والراح فاتلي

    هناك نوديت يا حبيبا مقدما

    So I inclined toward the dusky one, and the wine—[unclear word].

    There I was called: 'O honored beloved!'

  15. وسرت على ذاك الجموع بوجناء

    وتهت على الأقفار بالوصل مغنما

    And I traveled over that multitude on a sturdy she-camel.

    And I wandered the wastelands, with union as my prize.

  16. فآونة آوى إلى رابع الحمى

    وآونة آوي إلى نعما

    At times I take refuge in the fourth of the sanctuary,

    and at times I take refuge in Na'ma,

  17. لأرعى مع الغزلان والسائق الذي

    هواه قتيل للخليل المتيما

    to graze with the gazelles and the driver whose

    love is slain for the love-enthralled intimate friend.

  18. ألا يا ظباء الحي هل من يعنني

    فإن جميل الصبر عنى أفطما

    Ah, O gazelles of the encampment, is there anyone to help me?

    For beautiful patience has been weaned away from me.

  19. تقادمني حب الطلول وربعها

    وتيمني قبل الظهور تكرما

    Love for the ruins and their campsite long preceded me,

    and graciously enthralled me before manifestation.

  20. حمى ظمئي ظبي لماه وطعمه

    لأن رضاب الحب طب من الكلما

    A gazelle preserved my thirst—his dark lips and his taste.

    For the beloved's saliva is medicine for wounds.

  21. أنا عاشق والشوق قد هزني بها

    فلحظ رماني بالسهام تألما

    I am a lover, and longing has shaken me because of her.

    So a glance shot me with arrows, bringing pain.

  22. فواحسرتي في الطوق سحر متمق

    ولا غرو إن كان الحمام ثوى قدما

    So alas for my sorrow! In the collar is a spell [unclear modifier].

    And no wonder if death had settled long ago.

  23. أنا في غرام العشق فقت جميعهم

    وكل فتى يهوى فإني له قسما

    I have surpassed them all in love's consuming passion.

    And for every youth who loves, I am a portion.

  24. كلفت به من قبل ميلاد أشهر

    وتهت على الأقمار إذا هواها حتما

    I became enamored of him before the birth of months.

    And I exulted above the moons, when love for them became inevitable.

  25. إني في حمى ظبي مليح له حما

    ففي راحتي اليمنى شباب به حلما

    Indeed, I am in the sanctuary of a lovely gazelle who has a sanctuary.

    So in my right palm is youthfulness; in it, a dream [syntax unclear].

  26. وإني فقير إذ ألوذ بجعفر

    فمن يقصد الأطواد ليس له حشما

    And I am poor, as I seek refuge with Ja'far.

    For whoever seeks the lofty mountains has no retinue.

  27. ألا يا بريق الغور أنشد مقالتي

    بجزع الحمى ظبي حما ذاك الحمى

    Ah, O gleam of al-Ghawr, recite my words:

    At the sanctuary's valley bend is a gazelle who guarded that sanctuary.