قَضَت وَطَراً مِنّي النَّوى وَتَخاذَلَتْ

قَضَت وَطَراً مِنّي النَّوى وَتَخاذَلَتْ

قُوى العيسِ واِنضَمَّت عَلَينا المَفاوزُ

قُوى العيسِ واِنضَمَّت عَلَينا المَفاوزُ

Separation has had its fill of me, and spent is

My desire has accomplished its goal, and my strength has weakened,

the pale camels' strength; the deserts have closed in upon us.

The icy seasons have conspired against me, and the barren lands hem me in.

وَنِضوي لِذاتِ الضَّالِ قالٍ وَبالنَّقا

وَنِضوي لِذاتِ الضَّالِ قالٍ وَبالنَّقا

شَجٍ وَعَلى وادي الأَراكَةِ ناشِزُ

شَجٍ وَعَلى وادي الأَراكَةِ ناشِزُ

And my worn-out camel loathes Dhat al-Dal, and at al-Naqa

We wander lost, while the critic berates and accuses,

is sorrowful, and at Wadi al-Arakah is restive.

Through rugged lands and valleys of hardship our journey lies.

وَلَولاكِ يا ذاتَ الوِشاحَينِ لَم يَكُن

وَلَولاكِ يا ذاتَ الوِشاحَينِ لَم يَكُن

لِمِثليَ عَمّا يُعقِبُ العِزَّ حاجِزُ

لِمِثليَ عَمّا يُعقِبُ العِزَّ حاجِزُ

And were it not for you, O wearer of the two sashes, there would be no

If not for you, O veil-clad beauty, one such as I

barrier keeping one like me from what brings honor.

Could never rise above what follows glory's demise.

يُعَيِّرُني بالعَجزِ صَحبي وَساعِدي

يُعَيِّرُني بالعَجزِ صَحبي وَساعِدي

شَديدٌ وَلَكِنَّ المُتَيَّمَ عاجِزُ

شَديدٌ وَلَكِنَّ المُتَيَّمَ عاجِزُ

My companions taunt me for helplessness, though my forearm

My friends reproach my weakness, though my will remains firm,

is strong; yet the man enthralled by love is helpless.

Yet the longing lover can do naught but agonize.

وَما في سُلوِّ النَّفسِ عَنكِ طَماعَةٌ

وَما في سُلوِّ النَّفسِ عَنكِ طَماعَةٌ

فَما هَذِهِ الأَهواءُ إِلّا غَرائِزُ

فَما هَذِهِ الأَهواءُ إِلّا غَرائِزُ

And there is no hope of my soul's forgetting you;

In my soul there is no guile toward you,

for these passions are nothing but instincts.

These passions stir in me no other than nature's ties.