1. قَد نَدَعُ المَنزِلَ يا لِمَيسُ

    يَعتَسَّ فيهِ السَبُعُ الجَروسُ

    We sometimes leave the dwelling, O Lamis,

    where the ravenous beast prowls by night—

  2. الذِئبُ أَو ذو لِبَدٍ هَموسُ

    بَسابٍاً لَيسَ بِهِ أَنيسُ

    the wolf, or a soft-treading, maned one—

    a barren waste with no human company,

  3. إِلّا اليَعافيرُ وَإِلّا العيسُ

    وَبَقَرٌ مُلَمَّعٌ كُنوسُ

    save gazelle fawns and white camels,

    and dappled wild cows sheltering in cover,

  4. كَأَنَّما هُنَّ الجَواري الميسُ

    as though they were swaying maidens.