1. يا حادي الجمال

    في مهمه الفلا

    O driver of the camels,

    in the trackless wastes of the desert,

  2. صف وح ذي خبال

    في مشهد العلا

    describe the [unclear word] of one distraught,

    in the presence of glory.

  3. ناد بكل نادى

    مضنى البعاد باد

    Call out in every gathering:

    The one wasted by separation has perished.

  4. وقل إذا تنادى

    لا شفك البعاد

    And say when calls ring out:

    May separation not waste you away.

  5. سلوا عن الرقاد

    من حالف السهاد

    Ask about slumber

    the one who has pledged himself to sleeplessness.

  6. ترى متى الليالى

    تدنى مؤملا

    I wonder when the nights

    will bring a hopeful one near,

  7. ينال بالوصال

    سعدا مكملا

    to gain, through reunion,

    perfect happiness.

  8. زند من الوجيب

    بالقلب يقدح

    A firestick of throbbing

    strikes sparks within the heart.

  9. وبي من الحبيب

    وجد مبرح

    And in me, from the beloved,

    is an agonizing passion.

  10. وقربه طبيبي

    لو كان يمنح

    And nearness to him is my physician,

    if only it were granted.

  11. لو صاح لم أبال

    عمن تأولا

    If he cried out, I would not care

    about whoever misconstrued,

  12. وقال بالمحال

    عن حبه سلا

    and made the impossible claim:

    "He has forgotten his love."

  13. أنا الذي رماني

    عن قوسه النوى

    I am the one who was shot,

    by separation, from its bow.

  14. دعني فقد شجاني

    وشفني الجوى

    Leave me, for it has grieved me,

    and burning love has wasted me away.

  15. لو كنت لي معاني

    لأنجح الدوا

    If you were attentive to me,

    the remedy would have worked.

  16. بكثرة اعتلالي

    قد صرت مهملا

    With my many ailments,

    I have become neglected.

  17. ترى على محال

    أدنو فاقبلا

    I wonder: is it toward the impossible

    that I draw near? Then come forward.

  18. فوضت في أموري

    إليك خالقي

    I have entrusted my affairs

    to You, my Creator.

  19. في خطبي الخطير

    جد بالترفق

    In my grave plight,

    be generous with gentle care.

  20. فليس من نصير

    سواك مشفق

    For there is no helper

    other than You, full of compassion.

  21. ومنك في المآل

    يرجو التفضلا

    And from You, in the end,

    gracious favor is hoped for

  22. عبد على الضلال

    ما زال مقبلا

    by a servant who toward error

    has never ceased to turn.

  23. يا رب بالنبي

    وصبحه الكرام

    O Lord, by the Prophet,

    and his noble companions [probable reading],

  24. والمنزل العلى

    بالركن والمقام

    and the lofty abode,

    by the Corner and the Station,

  25. صفحا عن الشحي

    إذ قال في النظام

    pardon the sorrowful one [probable reading],

    when he said in verse:

  26. يا منزل الغزال

    حييت منزلاً

    O abode of the gazelle,

    may you be blessed as a dwelling!

  27. فما أنا بسال

    عنه وإن سلا

    For I am not forgetful

    of him, even if he has forgotten.