1. A lightning sparkled from its cloud
It cracked the infatuated hearts
١. برقٌ تألَّق مِن تِهامَه
صَدَعَ القلوبَ المُستهامَهْ
2. They yearn for it when it appears
It trembles in the tail of the cloud
٢. تصبو اليه إذا بدا
يهتزُّ في ذيلِ الغمامَهْ
3. It shows and hides sometimes
Like the sword, sheathed, polished
٣. يبدو ويخبو تارةً
كالسيفِ أغمدَهُ وشامَه
4. The young blames the morning rain
His blame does not deter it
٤. بَكَرَ العذولُ يلومُ
صَبّاً ليس تثنيه الملامَه
5. What is the lover's and blamer's concern
Its veil has slipped off from it
٥. ما للمحبِّ وللملامِ
لقد نضا عنه لِثامَه
6. Where can resolute hear from
The passion that prolonged his love
٦. مِن أين يسمعُه عزيم
هوًى أطال بهِ غرامَه
7. He craves for the roe of meadows
Will he ever see his wishes fulfilled
٧. يهوَى لُمَى ظبي الصريمِ
فهل يَرى يوماً لمامَه
8. He still asks and aspires
For the she-camel, or a grazing she-camel
٨. مازالَ يسألُ أو يرومُ
عن النقا أو ريمِ رامَه
9. The redness of its saliva distracted him
From drinking wine in love
٩. ألهتْهُ حمرَةٌ ريقِهِ
في الحبِّ عن شربِ المُدامَه
10. A fragrance perfumed his glory
Like musk, missing its seal
١٠. عَطِرٌ تأرَّجَ عَرْفُه
كالمِسكِ تَسلُبهُ خِتامَه
11. Passion took over his rein
And led him to affliction, holding his rope
١١. ملَكَ الغرامُ عِنانَه
واقتادَ للبلوى زِمامَه
12. And humiliated him after honor
He did not fear its breaking
١٢. وأذلَّهُ مِن بعدِ عِزّ
كانَ لا يخشى انفصامَه
13. So he lost who used to
Hope to hold its rope
١٣. فأضاعَهُ مَنْ كانَ
يأمُلُ أنَّه يرعى ذِمامَه
14. And love did not prevent the eloquent
from his eloquence and speech
١٤. والحبُّ ما منعَ البليغ
على بلاغتِهِ كلامَه
15. He meets the beloved, cannot bear
To complain to him of his own condition
١٥. يلقى الحبيبَ فما يُطيقُ
إليه أن يشكو اهتِضامَه
16. The shining lightning did not glitter
Upon the hills of Nejd and Syria
١٦. ما أومضَ البرقُ اللموعُ
على رُبا نجدٍ فشامَهْ
17. Except it reminded him
Of the beloved's smile at night
١٧. اِلاّ وذكَّرَهُ مِنَ
المحبوبِ في الليلِ ابتسامَه
18. It did not visit him like the full moon
Without its light dispelling his darkness
١٨. ما زارهَ كالبدرِ تجلو
منه غرَّتُه ظلامَه
19. Except it greeted him, greeting him
With what quenched his thirst
١٩. اِلاّ وحيّاهُ محيّاهُ
بما روّى اُوامَه
20. O rider of the excellent horse
Speeding from above like an ostrich
٢٠. يا راكباً يفلي الفلا
مِن فوقٍ أعيسَ كالنعامَه
21. The brave pierced and threw
The spear in the target for a bull's eye
٢١. ذرعَ القفازٌ وقد أطار
الاْينُ في المرمى لُغامَه
22. Like an arrow in the pierced skin
Almost grilling its fat
٢٢. كالسهمِ في الخرقِ القصيِّ
يكادُ أن يشأى سَمامَه
23. Above it is a sentinel bending
Whenever the dove coos
٢٣. مِن فوقهِ كَلِفٌُ يحنُّ
إذا تغرَّدتِ الحمامَه
24. It did not coo except he renewed
His passionate remembrance
٢٤. ما غرَّدتْ إلا وعاودَ
مِن تذكُّرِه هُيامَه
25. By Allah, if you come to the sanctuary
And see its tents from afar
٢٥. باللهِ أن جئتَ الحِمى
ورأيتَ عن بعدٍ خيامَه
26. Send regards to the maidens therein
When you pass by, greet them
٢٦. بلِّغْ أُغيلمَةً بهنَّ
إذا مررتَ بها سلامَه
27. On behalf of a spurned, heart-broken lover
The nearness of their homes revived his bones
٢٧. عن مغرمٍ دَنِفٍ بَرَى
تَذكارُ قربهمُ عظامَه
28. He did not roam the meadows of the sanctuary
Except it reminded him of Damascus
٢٨. ماهبَّ مِن روضِ الحمى
اِلاّ وأذكرنَي بَشامَه
29. Walking with its northern wind
The northern wind quenched his thirst
٢٩. يسري بريحِ ثُمامهِ
سقَّى حيا جفني ثُمامَه