غَشيتُ دِيارَ الحَيِّ بِالسَبُعانِ

غَشيتُ دِيارَ الحَيِّ بِالسَبُعانِ

كَما البَدرُ فَالعَينانِ تَبتَدِرانِ

كَما البَدرُ فَالعَينانِ تَبتَدِرانِ

I visited the tribe’s dwellings at al-Sabuʿān.

I roamed the abodes of Hayy with two swords

Like the full moon; then both eyes vie in weeping.

Like the full moon, with two keen eyes

مَنازِلُ مِن بيضِ الخُدودِ كَأَنَّها

مَنازِلُ مِن بيضِ الخُدودِ كَأَنَّها

نِعاجُ المَلا مِن مُعصِرٍ وَعَوانِ

نِعاجُ المَلا مِن مُعصِرٍ وَعَوانِ

Dwellings of fair-cheeked women, as though they were

Dwellings of fair-cheeked ones, as though they were

Antelope does of the sandy plains—maidens and mature women.

Ewes of Mala being milked by the tribesmen

وَإِنّي لَأُعطي المالَ مَن لا أَوَدُّهُ

وَإِنّي لَأُعطي المالَ مَن لا أَوَدُّهُ

وَأَلبَسُ أَقواماً عَلى الشَنَآنِ

وَأَلبَسُ أَقواماً عَلى الشَنَآنِ

And indeed I give wealth to someone I do not love,

And I give money to those I do not love

And associate with people despite enmity.

And clothe groups who bear enmity

وَمُستَخبِرٍ عَنّي يَوَدُّ لَوَ أَنَّني

وَمُستَخبِرٍ عَنّي يَوَدُّ لَوَ أَنَّني

شَرِبتُ بِسَمٍّ ريقَتي فَقَضاني

شَرِبتُ بِسَمٍّ ريقَتي فَقَضاني

And many an inquirer about me wishes that I

And an inquirer about me who would wish I

Had swallowed my saliva with poison, and it had killed me.

Had drunk poison and my spit had finished me

وَذي لُطُفٍ لَو كانَ يَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

وَذي لُطُفٍ لَو كانَ يَعلَمُ أَنَّهُ

شِفائي دَمٌ مِن جَوفِهِ لَشَفاني

شِفائي دَمٌ مِن جَوفِهِ لَشَفاني

And many a kindly man, if he knew that

And one gentle, if he knew that

My cure was blood from his belly, would surely heal me.

My healing was blood from his insides, he would heal me