ماذا رُزِئنا غَداةَ النَحِلِّ مِن رِمَعٍ

ماذا رُزِئنا غَداةَ النَحِلِّ مِن رِمَعٍ

عِندَ التَفَرُّقِ مِن خِيرٍ وَمِن كَرَمِ

عِندَ التَفَرُّقِ مِن خِيرٍ وَمِن كَرَمِ

What a loss we suffered on the morning of [unclear word], from Rimaʿ,

What were we denied after the bees left

at parting—of goodness and generosity!

When we parted from bounty and generosity?

ظَلَّ لَنا واقِفاً يُعطى فَأَكثَرُ ما

ظَلَّ لَنا واقِفاً يُعطى فَأَكثَرُ ما

سَمّى وَقالَ لَنا في قَولِهِ نَعَمِ

سَمّى وَقالَ لَنا في قَولِهِ نَعَمِ

He remained standing for us, giving; most of what

He remained standing, giving generously,

he uttered and said to us in his speech was 'Yes.'

Naming and telling us “yes” in his words.

ثُمَّ اِنتَحى غَيرَ مَذمومِ وَأَعيُنُنا

ثُمَّ اِنتَحى غَيرَ مَذمومِ وَأَعيُنُنا

لَمّا تَوَلّى بِدَمعِ واكِفٍ سَجِمِ

لَمّا تَوَلّى بِدَمعِ واكِفٍ سَجِمِ

Then he went away, free of reproach, while our eyes,

Then he withdrew, beyond reproach, while our eyes

when he turned away, streamed with dripping, pouring tears.

When he turned away, shed tears that lingered.

تَحمِلُهُ الناقَةُ الأَدماءُ مُعتَجِزاً

تَحمِلُهُ الناقَةُ الأَدماءُ مُعتَجِزاً

بِالبُردِ كَالبَدرِ رِجَلّى لَيلَةَ الظُلَمِ

بِالبُردِ كَالبَدرِ رِجَلّى لَيلَةَ الظُلَمِ

The white she-camel carries him, wrapped about the waist

The russet camel carries him wearily

in a striped cloak, like the full moon [unclear word] on a dark night.

In the cold like the moon, his legs on a moonless night.

وَكَيفَ أَنساكَ لا أَيديكَ واحِدَةٌ

وَكَيفَ أَنساكَ لا أَيديكَ واحِدَةٌ

عِندي وَلا بِالَّذي أَسدَيتَ مِن قِدَمِ

عِندي وَلا بِالَّذي أَسدَيتَ مِن قِدَمِ

And how could I forget you? Your favors are not just one

How could I forget you? Not one of your hands

to me, nor has what you bestowed grown old.

Remains with me, nor what you gave generously.

حَتّى لَقينا بَحيراً عِندَ مَقدَمِنا

حَتّى لَقينا بَحيراً عِندَ مَقدَمِنا

في مَوكِبٍ كَضِباعِ الحَزنِ مُزدَحِمِ

في مَوكِبٍ كَضِباعِ الحَزنِ مُزدَحِمِ

Until, upon our arrival, we met Bahir,

Until we met a lake before us

in a crowded retinue like hyenas of the rugged uplands.

In a procession, like the gazelles of sorrow crowded together.

فَلَو رَأَيتَ مَقامي عِندَ بابِهِمُ

فَلَو رَأَيتَ مَقامي عِندَ بابِهِمُ

أَحبَبتَ أَنّي بِذاكَ البابِ لَم أُقِمِ

أَحبَبتَ أَنّي بِذاكَ البابِ لَم أُقِمِ

Had you seen me standing at their gate,

If you could see me standing at their door,

you would have wished I had not stayed at that gate.

You would want me never to have stood at that door.