لِعَمرَةَ بَينَ الأَخرَمَينِ طُلولُ

لِعَمرَةَ بَينَ الأَخرَمَينِ طُلولُ

تَقادَمَ مِنها مُشهِرٌ وَمُحيلُ

تَقادَمَ مِنها مُشهِرٌ وَمُحيلُ

ʿAmrah’s ruined dwellings lie between al-Akhramayn.

By the life of Umarah between the two encampments, her visiting tents

Their month-old and year-old traces have weathered.

Receded, though a month still remained ere the season of departure,

وَقَفتُ بِها حَتّى تَعالى لِيَ الضُحى

وَقَفتُ بِها حَتّى تَعالى لِيَ الضُحى

لِأُخبِرَ عَنها إِنَّني لَسَؤولُ

لِأُخبِرَ عَنها إِنَّني لَسَؤولُ

I stood there until the morning light rose high above me,

I stood by them, till at morn they were struck and the people decamped;

To tell of her—for I am indeed much given to asking.

I was questioned concerning them, and verily I am responsible.

فَإِن تَحسَبوها بِالحِجابِ ذَليلَةً

فَإِن تَحسَبوها بِالحِجابِ ذَليلَةً

فَما أَنا يَوماً إِن رَكِبتُ ذَليلُ

فَما أَنا يَوماً إِن رَكِبتُ ذَليلُ

So if you think her abased at al-Hijab,

If you suppose them to be mean, through being curtained,

For I am never abased when I ride forth.

Yet never have I on any occasion been mean.

سَأَمنَعُها في عُصبَةٍ ثَعلَبِيَّةٍ

سَأَمنَعُها في عُصبَةٍ ثَعلَبِيَّةٍ

لَهُم عَدَدٌ وافٍ وَعِزٌّ أَصيلُ

لَهُم عَدَدٌ وافٍ وَعِزٌّ أَصيلُ

I shall defend her among a Thaʿlabite band;

I will defend them with a party of the clan of Tai,

They have ample numbers and deep-rooted might.

A full number, and of ancient and noble lineage.

فَإِن شِئتُمُ عُدنا صَديقاً وَعُدتُمُ

فَإِن شِئتُمُ عُدنا صَديقاً وَعُدتُمُ

وَإِمّا أَبَيتُم فَالمَقامُ زَحولُ

وَإِمّا أَبَيتُم فَالمَقامُ زَحولُ

So if you wish, we shall be friends again, and so shall you;

If you choose to consider me a friend, you will find me steadfast;

And if you refuse, our dwelling will be far away.

But if you reject my suit, the sojourn will be brief.