وقفنا وقد شطت بأحبابنا النوى

وقفنا وقد شطت بأحبابنا النوى

على الدار نبكيها سقى ربعها المزن

على الدار نبكيها سقى ربعها المزن

We stood, while separation had carried our loved ones far away,

We stopped as our loved ones' departure drew near

at the dwelling, weeping for it—may rain clouds water its grounds.

At the abode, weeping for it as its dwellers bid adieu

وزادت دموع الواكفين برسمها

وزادت دموع الواكفين برسمها

فلو أرسلت سفن بها جرت السفن

فلو أرسلت سفن بها جرت السفن

And the weepers’ tears swelled at its traces;

And the tears of those stopped increased at its trace

had ships been launched upon them, the ships would have sailed.

As if ships were sent off by them, so the ships would flow

ولم يق صبر يستعان على النوى

ولم يق صبر يستعان على النوى

به بعد توديع الخليط ولا جفن

به بعد توديع الخليط ولا جفن

And no patience we could call on against separation shielded us,

No patience helps withstand the departure

after bidding our companions farewell, nor did an eyelid.

After bidding farewell to the dear ones and the eyelids

سألنا الصبا لما رأينا غرامنا

سألنا الصبا لما رأينا غرامنا

يزيد بسكان الحمى والهوى يدنو

يزيد بسكان الحمى والهوى يدنو

We asked the east wind, when we saw our yearning

We asked the morning breeze when we saw our love

grow for the dwellers of the protected grounds, and love draw near:

Grow with the dwellers of the camp, and the passion came close

أفيك لحمل الشوق يا ريح موضع

أفيك لحمل الشوق يا ريح موضع

فقد ضعفت عن حمل أشواقنا البدن

فقد ضعفت عن حمل أشواقنا البدن

“Is there room in you, O wind, to carry longing?

Is there in you, O wind, a place for carrying longing?

For our bodies have grown too weak to carry our longings.”

For the bodies have grown too weak to bear our longing