عِندي لِأَهلِ الحِمى وَالرَّكبُ مُرتَحِلُ

عِندي لِأَهلِ الحِمى وَالرَّكبُ مُرتَحِلُ

قَلبٌ يُشَيِّعُهُم أَو مَدمَعٌ هَطِلُ

قَلبٌ يُشَيِّعُهُم أَو مَدمَعٌ هَطِلُ

For those of the protected grounds, as the caravan departs, I have

For the people of passion and travelers departing

a heart that sees them off, or an eye streaming tears.

My heart bids them farewell, or tears pouring down.

أَمّا الفُؤادُ فَلا يَبغي بِهِم بَدَلا

أَمّا الفُؤادُ فَلا يَبغي بِهِم بَدَلا

وَهَلْ عَنِ الرُّوحِ إِن فارَقْتُها بَدَلُ

وَهَلْ عَنِ الرُّوحِ إِن فارَقْتُها بَدَلُ

As for the heart, it seeks no substitute for them.

As for my inner self, it desires no substitute for them,

And is there a substitute for the soul, if I part from it?

Can the soul be replaced once it's departed?

وَفي الهوادِجِ مَن يُغري العواذِلَ بي

وَفي الهوادِجِ مَن يُغري العواذِلَ بي

وَهُنَّ يَعجِزنَ عَمّا تَصنَعُ الإِبِلُ

وَهُنَّ يَعجِزنَ عَمّا تَصنَعُ الإِبِلُ

And in the howdahs is one who incites the reproaching women against me,

Among the lovely ladies are those who tempt me,

while they are powerless to do what the camels do.

Yet they cannot accomplish what the camels do.

تَرنو إِليَّ عَلى رُعبٍ يُخامِرُها

تَرنو إِليَّ عَلى رُعبٍ يُخامِرُها

تَلَفُّتَ الظَّبيِ حينَ اِعتادَهُ الوَجَلُ

تَلَفُّتَ الظَّبيِ حينَ اِعتادَهُ الوَجَلُ

She gazes at me, with terror stealing over her,

They glance at me in fearful apprehension,

like a gazelle turning to look when dread besets it.

Like a gazelle when alarmed by a predator.

وَلِي إِلَيها وَإِن خِفتُ العِدا نَظَرٌ

وَلِي إِلَيها وَإِن خِفتُ العِدا نَظَرٌ

أَلْوِي لَهُ الجيدَ أَحياناً إِذا غَفَلوا

أَلْوِي لَهُ الجيدَ أَحياناً إِذا غَفَلوا

And I gaze toward her, though I fear the foes,

And though I fear hostility, I still look their way,

sometimes turning my neck to do so when they are heedless.

Inclining my neck if they’re unaware.

وَكَيفَ يُجدي عَلى الصَّادي تَلَفُّتُهُ

وَكَيفَ يُجدي عَلى الصَّادي تَلَفُّتُهُ

إِلى مَناهِلَ سُدَّتْ دونَها السُّبُلُ

إِلى مَناهِلَ سُدَّتْ دونَها السُّبُلُ

And how can it help the thirsty man to turn his gaze

Yet how can my glancing aid one who is barred,

toward watering places whose paths are barred?

From springs beyond reach, roads blocked?

نأَت وَلَم تَكُ نَفسي بَعدَ فُرقَتِها

نأَت وَلَم تَكُ نَفسي بَعدَ فُرقَتِها

تَرجو الحَياةَ وَلكن أُخِّرَ الأَجَلُ

تَرجو الحَياةَ وَلكن أُخِّرَ الأَجَلُ

She went far away, and after parting from her my soul did not

We come, yet after parting, my soul still unsated,

hope for life; yet the appointed hour was delayed.

Seeks life, though its time is deferred.