غداةَ النَّوى زُمَّتْ لبينٍ ركائبُ

غداةَ النَّوى زُمَّتْ لبينٍ ركائبُ

عليها قِبابٌ حَشْوُهَنَّ كواعبُ

عليها قِبابٌ حَشْوُهَنَّ كواعبُ

On the morning of separation, riding camels were haltered for departure;

The morning after farewell, the litters were made ready,

upon them were canopies filled with full-breasted maidens.

With canopies whose curtains were the fairest.

طلعنَ شموساً والديارُ مشارقٌ

طلعنَ شموساً والديارُ مشارقٌ

لهنَّ وأحداجُ القلاص مغارب

لهنَّ وأحداجُ القلاص مغارب

They rose as suns, and the dwellings were places of sunrise

Suns rose in splendor, and the land was radiant -

for them, while the young she-camels’ litters were places of sunset.

For them a rising, for others who departed, a setting.

تطاول ليلي بعد إمعان سيرهم

تطاول ليلي بعد إمعان سيرهم

وآلى الدُّجى أن لا تغورَ الكواكب

وآلى الدُّجى أن لا تغورَ الكواكب

My night grew long after they journeyed far away,

My night grew long pondering their course,

and the darkness swore that the stars would not set.

And gloom was fain never to see the stars set.

فلا صبحَ إلا من محيَّا خريدةٍ

فلا صبحَ إلا من محيَّا خريدةٍ

ولا ليلَ إلا فوقَ صُبحٍ ذوائب

ولا ليلَ إلا فوقَ صُبحٍ ذوائب

So dawn comes only from a bashful maiden’s face,

No dawn but brought me a beloved one's inducement to sell;

and no night exists but tresses above a dawn.

No night but above the morning's trace it hovered.

تأوَّبني منهنَّ سُهْدٌ وعَبْرَةٌ

تأوَّبني منهنَّ سُهْدٌ وعَبْرَةٌ

فلا أدمعي تَرْقا ولا النومُ آيب

فلا أدمعي تَرْقا ولا النومُ آيب

Sleeplessness and weeping revisited me by night because of them,

Their memory has left me sleepless and tearful,

so my tears do not cease, nor does sleep return.

My tears flow unchecked, my eyes know no rest.

عذاب الثنايا عذبت قلب مغرم

عذاب الثنايا عذبت قلب مغرم

براه عذاب من جوى الحب واصب

براه عذاب من جوى الحب واصب

Maidens with sweet front teeth have tormented a lover’s heart,

The anguish of love has sweetly tortured my passionate heart

which unceasing torment from love’s anguish has worn away.

With a blend of joy and pain from the beloved's glance.