هي الدار تعرف اسوانها

فما لك تنكر عرفانها

This is the dwelling; it recognizes its grief-stricken one.

Why, then, do you deny knowing it?

فقف بيَ مستلما تربها

وجانب بثقلك خفانها

So halt with me, reverently touching its dust,

and keep your weight clear of its ostrich chicks.

وعج بارائك ذات الاراك

وصف ليَ نعمى ونعمانها

And turn aside to Ara'ik, rich in arak trees,

and describe to me Na'ma and its Na'man.

ويمم طلاع ثنايا الغمير

وشعب الغوير ونجرانها

Make for the heights of al-Ghumayr's passes,

and the ravine of al-Ghuwayr and its Najran.

وسلّم على سلمات العذيب

سقتها البوارق تهتانها

And greet the acacias of al-'Udhayb—

may lightning clouds water them with their downpours—

بمرتسناتٍ بمثل الارا

قم جذبا تحارش آذانها

on bridled she-camels, with reins like speckled ser-

pents, teasing their ears as the reins are tugged.

فمن كل نافحة بالذميل

تلاعب في الجد ارسانها

Each one surges onward at a brisk trot,

playing with its reins even in earnest haste,

تجوب المواميَ مذئوبة

تناقل في الدو سرجانها

crossing the wastes, wolf-frightened,

carrying its saddles through the open desert.

اقول لسعدٍ على اليعملات

والعيس تعمل وخدانها

I say to Sa'd, upon the hardy she-camels,

while the pale camels ply their swift gait:

طوى البيد اشعث رث القميص

خميص الحشاشة طيانها

A disheveled man in a threadbare shirt has crossed the deserts,

hollow within, famished in his very soul;

يزج ضوامر مثل الصقور

كواسر تسبق عقبانها

he urges on lean mounts like falcons,

swooping raptors that outstrip their eagles,

بعينٍ تخلَّج في ماقها

قذى كاد يقلع انسانها

with an eye in whose inner corner quivered

a mote that almost tore its pupil out.

بوادي العقيق جرت بالعقيق

وبالسفح تسفح عقيانها

In the valley of al-'Aqiq, it flowed with carnelian,

and on the slope it pours out its pure gold.

خليليَّ لي بمنى حاجةٌ

منىً لو اناشد جيرانها

My two friends, I have a need at Mina;

longings—if only I could entreat its neighbors.

لقد كنت قبل طروق المشيب

طويل الذؤابة فينانها

Indeed, before gray hair came calling, I was

long-tressed, with luxuriant locks,

اخا لمَّةٍ ليَ غربيبة

اطرت على الخيف غربانها

with a head of hair of my own, raven-black;

I sent its ravens flying over al-Khayf.

شروب الغديات وقت الضحى

طروب العشيات نشوانها

A copious drinker in the mornings, at forenoon,

rapturous in the evenings, intoxicated in them.

فمن لي بطيبة في طيبها

ومكة امسح اركانها

Who, then, will grant me Tayba in its fragrance,

and Mecca, that I may touch its corners?

ظمئت لبارد ذاك القليب

رميض الجوانح حرانها

I have thirsted for the cool water of that well,

my ribs scorched, burning with thirst within.

الا لاعدا فيح تلك البطاح

سقيط يباكر حوذانها

Ah, may the broad expanse of those flats never be missed

by dewfall greeting their buttercups at dawn.

وكلل بالوبل اعرافها

وقرّط بالطلّ آذانها

And may downpours crown their crests,

and dew hang like earrings from their ears.

تفيء بالطل اوراقها

علينا وتشبك اغصانها

Their dew-laden leaves bend

over us, and their branches interlace.

ويرقص منتشياً اثلها

اذا سكر الزمن قضبانها

And their tamarisks dance, intoxicated,

when time makes their twigs drunk.

سقاها رباب الحيا المستهلّ

وروَّض بالعشب كثبانها

May the clouds of pouring rain water them,

and turn their dunes to grassy meadows.

وهبَّت علينا صبّا شمأَل

بليل تباكر غيطانها

And may a lovesick north wind blow upon us,

cool and moist, greeting their lowlands at dawn.