قف حادي العيس باللَه

قف حادي العيس باللَه

سأودعك السلام

سأودعك السلام

Halt, chanting driver of the white camels, by God!

Stop, guide of the journey, I swear by God,

I shall entrust you with greetings

I will bid you farewell,

إلى الذي حل رمله

إلى الذي حل رمله

ذي الشيح والحزام

ذي الشيح والحزام

for the one who settled in a sandy tract

To the one whose sands have settled,

with wormwood and ḥizām.

With beauty and belt,

رملة بها جاد وبله

رملة بها جاد وبله

هتان الغمام

هتان الغمام

A sandy tract generously drenched with heavy rain

A hill in which generosity and kindness flowed,

from the steadily pouring clouds.

As clouds poured down,

وزانها كل طله

وزانها كل طله

تغريد الحمام

تغريد الحمام

And at every glimpse it was graced

Equal to every rising glow,

by the cooing of doves.

And cooing of doves.

فكم بها من جوذري أحوى

فكم بها من جوذري أحوى

ما هند ما لبني وحسن علوي

ما هند ما لبني وحسن علوي

And how many dusky, fawn-like beauties are there!

How much treasure it harbored,

What are Hind and Lubna beside heavenly beauty?

Not of India, nor Labaynor beauty.

هم حملوني فوق ماله أقوى

هم حملوني فوق ماله أقوى

قتلى لكم من أجله

قتلى لكم من أجله

They burdened me beyond what I can bear.

They carried me over what is stronger than property,

I am slain for you, for his sake,

Martyrs for you,

ياعذب الوشام

ياعذب الوشام

فيكم قتلت ألف قتله

فيكم قتلت ألف قتله

O sweet-tattooed one!

O gentle cheek.

For you I have been slain a thousand times

For you, I killed a thousand killings,

من قبل الحمام

من قبل الحمام

لو يعلم الناس يا صاح

لو يعلم الناس يا صاح

before death itself.

From before the doves.

If people knew, my friend,

If people knew, O friend,

ما في ذا الفريد

ما في ذا الفريد

لأبذلوا فيه الأرواح

لأبذلوا فيه الأرواح

what lies in this peerless one,

What lies in this unique one,

they would offer their souls for him

They would sacrifice their souls for him,

وأمسوا له عبيد

وأمسوا له عبيد

قربه على مرّ الاصباح

قربه على مرّ الاصباح

and become his slaves.

And become his servants.

Nearness to him, as mornings pass,

Draw him near at dawn breaks,

سلوانه جديد

سلوانه جديد

لكن أصيبوا بغفله

لكن أصيبوا بغفله

brings solace ever new.

His newness renews,

But they were stricken with heedlessness—

But they are struck with neglect,

أيقاظ نيام

أيقاظ نيام

أما أنا سأخرق البرشتق

أما أنا سأخرق البرشتق

awake, yet asleep.

Rousing sleepers.

As for me, I shall rend the barashtaq,

As for me, I will rip open the curtain,

وأجمع الهمّ الذي تفرّق

وأجمع الهمّ الذي تفرّق

إن كان قالوا زل أو تحقق

إن كان قالوا زل أو تحقق

and gather my scattered cares.

And gather the care that scattered,

Whether they say, 'He strayed,' or 'He attained realization,'

Be it said I slipped or erred,

فلا أبالي لأجله

فلا أبالي لأجله

بأقوال العوام

بأقوال العوام

for his sake, I pay no heed

I care not for the words of the commons.

to the words of the common people.

For nothing cured an ailment,

فما شفا كلّ علة

فما شفا كلّ علة

فيه إلا الهيام

فيه إلا الهيام

For nothing has cured every ailment

In it except passion.

in loving him except consuming love.