تعلقته بدوي اللسا

تعلقته بدوي اللسا

ن والوجه والزي ثبت الجنانِ

ن والوجه والزي ثبت الجنانِ

I fell in love with him—Bedouin in tongue

I am enthralled by his eloquent tongue, his face, and his steadfast love.

and face and dress, steadfast of heart.

I embrace the one whose stature is lofty.

أعانق من قده صعدة

أعانق من قده صعدة

ترى اللحظ منها مكان السنان

ترى اللحظ منها مكان السنان

In his stature I embrace a straight spear;

His glances reveal pearly teeth beneath his veil.

you see his glance where its spearhead should be.

He lowered his scarf over his mouth,

أدار اللثام على ثغره

أدار اللثام على ثغره

فأهدى الشقيق إلى الأقحوان

فأهدى الشقيق إلى الأقحوان

He drew the veil over his mouth,

Offering a flower to the one with doe eyes.

thus offering the anemone to the daisy.

He gathered his tresses while asking

ومسك ذوائبه سائل

ومسك ذوائبه سائل

على آس ديباجه الخسرواني

على آس ديباجه الخسرواني

And the musk of his tresses flows

About the silk of his brocade robe from Khosrowan.

over the myrtle of his Khosrovian brocade.

He melts with yearning for the howling of hounds

يذوب اشتياقاً لنبح الكلاب

يذوب اشتياقاً لنبح الكلاب

إذا هاجنا طرب للغطرفان

إذا هاجنا طرب للغطرفان

He melts with longing for the barking of dogs

When we are joyous and ready for the hunt.

when the cockerel’s crow stirs us to rapture.

I greet him with roses and jasmine,

أحييه بالورد والياسمين

أحييه بالورد والياسمين

فيصبو الى الشيح والابهقان

فيصبو الى الشيح والابهقان

I greet him with roses and jasmine,

So he inclines towards fenugreek and ebony.

yet he yearns for wormwood and abhaqān.

And he longs among us for the howling of wolves

ويشتاق فينا عواء الذئاب

ويشتاق فينا عواء الذئاب

إذا هاجنا طرب للعترفان

إذا هاجنا طرب للعترفان

And among us he longs for the howling of wolves

When we are joyous and ready for the hunt.

when the cockerel’s crow stirs us to rapture.

So O Beduoin, the arrows of your eyelashes

فيا بدوي سهام الجفون

فيا بدوي سهام الجفون

صرعن ضيوفك حول الجفان

صرعن ضيوفك حول الجفان

So, O Bedouin, the arrows of your eyelids

Have slain your guests around the eyelids.

have felled your guests around the feasting bowls.

If your creed is to guard the prey,

فإن كان دينك رعي الذمام

فإن كان دينك رعي الذمام

فقل أنت من ذمتي في أمان

فقل أنت من ذمتي في أمان

So if your creed is to honor the pledge of protection,

Say: “You are under my protection and safe.”

then say, “You are safe under my protection.”