يا قَلبِ ما أَنتَ مِن نَجدٍ وَساكِنِهِ

يا قَلبِ ما أَنتَ مِن نَجدٍ وَساكِنِهِ

خَلَّفتَ نَجداً وَراءَ المُدلِجِ الساري

خَلَّفتَ نَجداً وَراءَ المُدلِجِ الساري

O my heart, what have you to do with Najd and its dweller?

O my heart, you are not from Najd and its dwellers

You left Najd behind the traveler journeying by night.

You left Najd behind, beyond the trailing robe

راحَت نَوازِعُ مِن قَلبي تُتَبِّعُهُ

راحَت نَوازِعُ مِن قَلبي تُتَبِّعُهُ

عَلى بَقايا لُباناتٍ وَأوطارِ

عَلى بَقايا لُباناتٍ وَأوطارِ

Yearnings from my heart set out to follow it,

The yearnings have departed from my heart, following it

For lingering wishes and desires.

On the remnants of incense and litter

أَهفو إِلى الرَكبِ تَعلو لي رِكابُهُمُ

أَهفو إِلى الرَكبِ تَعلو لي رِكابُهُمُ

مِنَ الحِمى في أُسَيحاقٍ وَأَطمارِ

مِنَ الحِمى في أُسَيحاقٍ وَأَطمارِ

I yearn toward the caravan, whose camels rise into view before me,

I yearn for the caravan, their mounts rising for me

From the protected pasture, in threadbare clothes and rags.

From the sanctuary in Usayhaq and Atmar

تَضوعُ أَرواحُ نَجدٍ مِن ثِيابِهِمُ

تَضوعُ أَرواحُ نَجدٍ مِن ثِيابِهِمُ

عِندَ النُزولِ لِقُربِ العَهدِ بِالدارِ

عِندَ النُزولِ لِقُربِ العَهدِ بِالدارِ

The fragrances of Najd waft from their garments,

The spirits of Najd quiver from their garments

When they dismount, for they have only lately been at that abode.

When alighting, for the place was recently home

يا راكِبانِ قِفا لي وَاِقضِيا وَطَري

يا راكِبانِ قِفا لي وَاِقضِيا وَطَري

وَخَبِّرانِيَ عَن نَجدٍ بِأَخبارِ

وَخَبِّرانِيَ عَن نَجدٍ بِأَخبارِ

O two riders, stop for me and fulfill my wish,

O riders, stop for me and fulfill my desire

And tell me the tidings of Najd.

And tell me the news of Najd and its tales

هَل رُوِّضَت قاعَةُ الوَعساءِ أَم مُطِرَت

هَل رُوِّضَت قاعَةُ الوَعساءِ أَم مُطِرَت

خَميلَةُ الطَلحِ ذاتِ البانِ وَالغارِ

خَميلَةُ الطَلحِ ذاتِ البانِ وَالغارِ

Has the plain of al-Waʿsāʾ grown verdant, or has rain watered

Was the hall of Al-Wu'sa watered or rained upon

The acacia thicket, with its moringa and laurel?

The juicy Tathl with incense and caves

أَم هَل أَبيتُ وَدارٌ عِندَ كاظِمَةٍ

أَم هَل أَبيتُ وَدارٌ عِندَ كاظِمَةٍ

داري وَسُمّارُ ذاكَ الحَيِّ سُمّاري

داري وَسُمّارُ ذاكَ الحَيِّ سُمّاري

Or shall I pass the night, with a home near Kāẓima

Or did I spend the night in a house near Kazima

As my home, and that clan's evening companions as my own?

My house and the one who chants in that neighborhood chants for me

أَيّامَ أودِعُ سِرّي في الهَوى فَرَسي

أَيّامَ أودِعُ سِرّي في الهَوى فَرَسي

وَأَكتُمُ الحَيَّ إِدلاجي وَأَخطاري

وَأَكتُمُ الحَيَّ إِدلاجي وَأَخطاري

In the days when I entrusted my secret of love to my horse,

The days I confide my secret passion for my steed

And hid from the clan my night journeying and the risks I ran.

And conceal from the neighborhood my peril and dangers

فَلَم يَزالا إِلى أَن نَمَّ بي نَفَسي

فَلَم يَزالا إِلى أَن نَمَّ بي نَفَسي

وَحَدَّثَ الرَكبَ عَنّي دَمعِيَ الجاري

وَحَدَّثَ الرَكبَ عَنّي دَمعِيَ الجاري

So the two continued until my breath betrayed me,

Until slumber overcame me

And my flowing tears told the caravan about me.

And my flowing tears told the caravan about me