أَلا هَل إِلى إِلمامَةٍ أَن أُلِمَّها

أَلا هَل إِلى إِلمامَةٍ أَن أُلِمَّها

بُثَينَةُ يَوماً في الحَياةِ سَبيلُ

بُثَينَةُ يَوماً في الحَياةِ سَبيلُ

Ah, is there, for a brief visit I might make,

Is there no way to communicate with Buthaina one day?

Buthayna, one day in this life, a way?

For people have parted from seeking youth,

عَلى حينَ يَسلو الناسُ عَن طَلَبِ الصِبا

عَلى حينَ يَسلو الناسُ عَن طَلَبِ الصِبا

وَيَنسى اِتِّباعَ الوَصلِ مِنكِ خَليلُ

وَيَنسى اِتِّباعَ الوَصلِ مِنكِ خَليلُ

When people lose interest in pursuing youthful love,

And my companions neglect to keep in touch with you.

And a lover forgets to seek union with you.

If she says there's no way, tell her it's hard for me to excuse you.

فَإِن هِيَ قالَت لا سَبيلَ فَقُل لَها

فَإِن هِيَ قالَت لا سَبيلَ فَقُل لَها

عَناءٌ عَلى العُذرِيُّ مِنكِ طَويلُ

عَناءٌ عَلى العُذرِيُّ مِنكِ طَويلُ

So if she says, 'There is no way,' then tell her:

I don't care about people's aloofness if, O Buthaina,

'Long is the suffering you bring upon the ʿUdhri.'

You show me some kindness or send me a messenger.

أَلا لا أُبالي جَفوَةَ الناسِ إِن بَدا

أَلا لا أُبالي جَفوَةَ الناسِ إِن بَدا

لَنا مِنكِ رَأيٌ يا بُثَينَ جَميلُ

لَنا مِنكِ رَأيٌ يا بُثَينَ جَميلُ

Ah, I do not care about people's coldness, if there appears

If you don't obey my yearning or change me

A kindly regard from you toward us, O Buthayn,

For another, or if you shy away.

وَما لَم تُطيعي كاشِحاً أَو تَبَدَّلي

وَما لَم تُطيعي كاشِحاً أَو تَبَدَّلي

بِنا بَدَلاً أَو كانَ مِنكِ ذُهولُ

بِنا بَدَلاً أَو كانَ مِنكِ ذُهولُ

And so long as you heed no spiteful foe, nor take

My passions for you all are many -

Another in our place, nor fall into forgetfulness.

Forgetting you is little. May your beauty protect you from all harm!

وَإِنَّ صَباباتي بِكُم لَكَثيرَةٌ

وَإِنَّ صَباباتي بِكُم لَكَثيرَةٌ

بُثَينَ وَنِسيانِكُمُ لَقَليلُ

بُثَينَ وَنِسيانِكُمُ لَقَليلُ

And indeed my longings for you are many,

Don't you have some news for me or a messenger heading my way?

Buthayn, and seldom do I forget you.

I've sung in verse the praises of my love and passion for you all,

يَقيكِ جَميلٌ كُلَّ سوءٍ أَما لَهُ

يَقيكِ جَميلٌ كُلَّ سوءٍ أَما لَهُ

لَدَيكِ حَديثٌ أَو إِلَيكِ رَسولُ

لَدَيكِ حَديثٌ أَو إِلَيكِ رَسولُ

Jamil shields you from every harm; has he no

Songs it would take too long to recall.

Word with you, or messenger to you?

If my words don't please you, teach me,

وَقَد قِلتُ في حُبّي لَكُم وَصَبابَتي

وَقَد قِلتُ في حُبّي لَكُم وَصَبابَتي

مَحاسِنَ شِعرٍ ذِكرُهُنَّ يَطولُ

مَحاسِنَ شِعرٍ ذِكرُهُنَّ يَطولُ

And in my love for you and my longing, I have spoken

O soft southern breeze, how else can I speak?

Fine verses, whose recounting takes long.

Never for an instant has your image left my eyes,

فَإِن لَم يَكُن قَولي رِضاكِ فَعَلِّمي

فَإِن لَم يَكُن قَولي رِضاكِ فَعَلِّمي

هُبوبَ الصِبا يا بَثنَ كَيفَ أَقولُ

هُبوبَ الصِبا يا بَثنَ كَيفَ أَقولُ

So if my words do not please you, then teach

Nor will it until my sight fails.

The blowing east wind, O Bathn, how I should speak.

فَما غابَ عَن عَيني خَيالُكِ لَحظَةً

فَما غابَ عَن عَيني خَيالُكِ لَحظَةً

وَلا زالَ عَنها وَالخَيالُ يَزولُ

وَلا زالَ عَنها وَالخَيالُ يَزولُ

For your image has never vanished from my eye, even for a moment,

Nor left it, though images vanish.