1. Show kindness to her afflicted heart
For love has found its way to her

2. Protect her from your glances' harm
As you would a wounded doe in alarm

3. You had the power so you did wrong
To the innocent whom hope made long

4. No blame on you if you were kind
And relieved us, so relief we'd find

5. Thus your charms keep wounding us
Like two clashing armies, Aus and Khazraj

6. Estrangement's time, for estrangement left
No hope for our days, nothing we could expect

7. How can we escape when love's fetters
Few escape, and safe from them get

8. Hardness we met from your estrangement
So send reconciliation as an easement

9. Relieve her soul that stumbles in woe
With kohl or tears that plentifully flow

10. And stick to your oath in calling them liars
Excuses they want from you, nothing higher

11. They claim we adopted a view
Of one whom love made twist or skew

12. And shed the garb of love whatever
Of beauty cut for us or sew or weave

13. And came down from the steps of youth
Since you came down that slope, in truth

14. No, but breath of bliss that made
A lawn of sand or a slope its raid

15. Missives of passion that found
Each heart and with frost compound

16. Not once did we lightly shake off the bond
That we tightened around her, so fond

17. Nor did we lure despair to the sweetness
That an allurer made his earnest business

18. If you deny what we claim is true
Ask the moaning dove that makes ado

19. Did it moan unless we moaned too
And took the same path of grief it flew

20. Sleep dared not in our eyes reside
Without your leave, not there abide

21. Our eyes are fixed on you and so
Shed tears and many days in woe

22. Strange of you, you lent an ear
To the opponent's case to steer

23. And mingled your love and ours
Though ours for yours still lasts and towers

24. Long we wished for your consent
And suffered your hurts and torment

25. We called for your kindness time and again
So a door, oft knocked, might open then

26. Oh for the breaking of dawn, when appears
A herd, resting, of longing gazelles

27. And grazing does, heedless of reproach
Frolicking twixt acacia tree and clover patch

28. Like statues though perhaps a meaning fine
Might steal the heart, a steal so divine

29. And branches in darkness they let down
And cheeks that shine with blushlike gown

30. And soft necks like stalks of lily
Plaited with sunburnt arms so stilly

31. Suns of day, how we pasture still
By you the stars when night shadows fill

32. See us light our flames by your shine
And drive away sorrows that pine

33. You are only sweet herbs for us
That bend gently and scent discuss

34. Allow us then vanishing's cups
A sweet stream and shade that erupts

35. You who blame, of our tears speak
Without shame, tell of their creek

36. And judge, for tears overcame our eyes
So we crossed o'er their two crossings wise

37. My heart crosses the bend in a swoop
Like lightning, convulsing in its swoop

38. Victory refused it, so there filed in
Passion stirred up all feelings within

39. It divided it between despair and bliss
So in gloom and in joy it now is

40. In her howdah, red are her gear
Of the pretty ones, pride of the howdah dear

41. The one who looks at her dimpled smile
And slender waist and dress in style

42. Is laden with the beauty that would pour
From one who such a howdah wore

43. Oh that a people soiled themselves in staining
With charming eyes whom they were training

44. Yet are not refrained by hoary-headedness
Or warner of seemliness from this

45. If you saw us complaining of ardor
With camels under us complaining of order

46. By God, you would melt for what we face
Of regrets and sorrows that debase