1. رَبربُ الحرم

    خطر بوادي عصفريّ مخرَّم

    The sanctuary’s herd of gazelles

    Swayed through a safflower-hued, cleft valley.

  2. طافَ واِلتزم

    ومرَّ يسحب ذيلَهُ لِزَمزَم

    He circled the shrine and clung to it,

    And passed on, trailing his hem toward Zamzam.

  3. كَم سَبا وكم

    فتن بحسنه في الهوى وتيَّم

    How many he captivated, and how many

    He bewitched with his beauty and enslaved in love!

  4. فاِنثَنى ولَم

    يسمَح بنظرَه للشَجي المتيَّم

    Then he turned away, and did not

    Favor the sorrowing, enthralled lover with his gaze.

  5. جؤذريُّ الرَنا

    يُزري غصون البان إِن تَثَنّى

    Fawnlike in his gaze,

    He puts bān-tree branches to shame when he sways.

  6. حبُّهُ مُنى

    قَلبي وَجِسمي في هواهُ مُضنى

    Love for him is the desire

    Of my heart, and my body is wasted by love for him.

  7. قُلتُ إِذ ثَنى

    عِطفه ورنَّح قدَّه وَثَنّى

    I said, when he bent

    His flank, swaying his figure and bending again:

  8. يا أَخا الحرَم

    جفاك فتَّت مهجتي وسَمَّم

    “O brother of the sanctuary,

    Your coldness has shattered my heart and poisoned it.

  9. اِترك الجَفا

    وصِل متيَّم من جفاك أَشفى

    Leave coldness behind,

    And grant union to a lovesick soul whom your coldness has brought to death’s brink.

  10. ما جَرى كفى

    وكدتُ من فرط السقام أَخفى

    What has happened is enough,

    And from such grievous sickness I nearly vanished.

  11. فاِسمح بالوفا

    عَسى تهوِّم مقلتي وتغفى

    So grant me fidelity,

    Perhaps my eye may drowse and fall asleep.”

  12. مرَّ واِبتسم

    وَقال مهلاً فالحظوظُ تُقسَم

    He passed and smiled,

    And said, “Patience, for fortunes are apportioned.

  13. مَن عشق صَبَر

    وكُلُّ صابِر بالمرام يظفر

    Whoever loves endures,

    And everyone patient attains his goal.

  14. حُسني الأَغر

    أَغارَ بدرَ التمِّ حين أَسفَر

    My radiant beauty

    Made the full moon jealous when it shone forth.

  15. كَم خدع وغَر

    من اِدَّعى عشقي ولا تصبَّر

    How often it deceived and beguiled

    Those who claimed to love me yet showed no patience!”

  16. قُلتُ لا جَرَم

    الحُبُّ مغرمٌ والمحِبُّ مُغرم

    I said, “No doubt:

    Love is a burden, and the lover is enthralled.

  17. اِسعِف باللِقا

    ولا تَدعني في هواكَ مُلقى

    Relieve me with a meeting,

    And do not leave me cast aside in love for you.

  18. يا رَشا النَقا

    جامِل محبَّك فالجَميلُ أَبقى

    O fawn of the sand dune,

    Be kind to your lover, for kindness lasts longer.

  19. وَالجَفا شَقا

    حاشا لصبِّك في الغَرام يَشقى

    And coldness is misery;

    Far be it that your lovesick lover should suffer in love.

  20. مُغرمُك حَكم

    عليه حسنُك والهوى تحكَّم

    Your enthralled lover is ruled

    By your beauty, and passion holds sway over him.”

  21. قال لا تَخَف

    أَقبل فسعدُك بالوصال أَسعَف

    He said, “Do not fear;

    Come, for your good fortune has favored you with union.

  22. واِترِك الأَسف

    واِلثم بديدي من لَماي واِرشف

    And leave regret behind,

    And kiss the corners of my mouth, and sip from my dusky lips.

  23. كُلّي لَك تُحف

    ثغري وخصري والنهودُ والكف

    Every part of me is a gift for you:

    My mouth and waist, my breasts and palm.

  24. فاِشفي الأَلَم

    مِمّا تريدُه فالمرادُ لَك تَم

    So heal the pain

    With whatever you desire, for your wish is fulfilled.”

  25. بِتُّ مُعتَنِق

    خِلّي وبدري بالسعود مُشرق

    I spent the night embracing

    My beloved, while my full moon shone with good fortune.

  26. رحتُ مغتبِق

    ريقَه وراياتُ السرور تَخفق

    I took my evening draught

    Of his saliva, while banners of joy fluttered.

  27. وَالشذا عَبق

    وَبات حبّي للكؤوس يُدهِق

    And fragrance filled the air,

    And my beloved spent the night filling the cups to the brim.

  28. سُرَّ واِغتنم

    قَلبي ومن نال الوصالَ يَغنم

    Gladdened and enriched was

    My heart; whoever attains union profits.