سل الركب عن ليل الثوية من سرى

سل الركب عن ليل الثوية من سرى

أمامهم يحدو به وبهم حادي

أمامهم يحدو به وبهم حادي

Ask the caravan about the night at al-Thuwiyya: who journeyed by night

Ask the caravan about the night at Thawya,

Ahead of them, with a camel-driver urging him and them onward with song?

As their guide travels with them, leading the way.

ومن أذهل الحي الحلول بذي الغضا

ومن أذهل الحي الحلول بذي الغضا

وقد مر مجتازاً على يمنة الوادي

وقد مر مجتازاً على يمنة الوادي

And who bewildered the tribe encamped at Dhu al-Ghada,

Who was it that camped at Dhi Al-Ghadha

As he passed by along the valley’s right-hand side?

And passed along the right side of the valley?

أشمس أضاءت من خلال سحابةٍ

أشمس أضاءت من خلال سحابةٍ

أم الرشأ البادي من السجف البادي

أم الرشأ البادي من السجف البادي

Was it a sun that shone through a cloud,

A sun that shone through a cloud’s opening -

Or the young gazelle appearing from behind the visible curtain?

Or perhaps the mirage on the barren plain?

ووالله ما أبكي لنفسي وإنما

ووالله ما أبكي لنفسي وإنما

بكائي لأرواحٍ رهائن أجسادِ

بكائي لأرواحٍ رهائن أجسادِ

And by God, I do not weep for myself, but rather

By God, I do not weep for myself, but rather

My weeping is for souls held hostage in bodies.

My tears are for souls held hostage in bodies.

غدا البين في الغادين يسبي قلوبهم

غدا البين في الغادين يسبي قلوبهم

وراح فما راحوا مع الرائح الغادي

وراح فما راحوا مع الرائح الغادي

Parting set out in the morning among those departing, taking their hearts captive,

Tomorrow, separation will capture their hearts,

And departed at evening; yet they did not depart with the one journeying evening and morning.

And he went - yet they did not leave with the departing.