1. ألاَهل إلى أهْل الغوير سَبِيْلُ

    وَهَلْ في ظلالٍ بالغوير مقيلُ

    Ah, is there a way to the people of al-Ghuwayr?

    And is there a noonday resting place in the shade at al-Ghuwayr?

  2. لقد طال مَا بينَ الطلول توقفي

    وموقف مثلي في الطلولِ طويل

    Long indeed have I lingered among the ruined campsites.

    And one like me lingers long among the ruins.

  3. وعنّفني سَعدٌ خليلي في الهوى

    ولم يَدرْ أني للهوى لخليلُ

    And my friend Saʿd rebuked me for my love.

    Yet he did not know that I am indeed love's devoted friend.

  4. وكَمْ بين مَن أمْسى خليّا فؤادُه

    ومَنْ غَاله يومٌ التفرقِ غولُ

    And how far apart are one whose heart has grown free of love

    And one whom a ghoul ravaged on the day of parting!

  5. كفى حزنا لُبْثيِ بأَكثبةِ الغَضَا

    وقد حَدثتْ مِنْ ساكنيه حَمولُ

    It is sorrow enough that I linger at the dunes of al-Ghaḍā,

    While caravans have appeared from among its inhabitants.

  6. أدواي بُمعْتّلِ النسيمِ حشاشتي

    وجسْمي عليلٌ والنّسيمُ علِيلُ

    I soothe my life's last spark with the ailing breeze;

    And my body is ailing, and the breeze is ailing too.

  7. وأهْتِفُ بالبينِ المشتتِ بيننا

    أقِلْنِي فربُّ العالمين يُقيلُ

    And I cry to the parting that has scattered us:

    "Release me, for the Lord of the worlds grants release."

  8. فإن بخلَتْ بالوصلِ عَنّي زينبٌ

    فجوجُ أبي بكر عليّ جزيل

    So if Zaynab withholds reunion from me,

    Then Abū Bakr's generosity toward me is abundant.

  9. وأنّ السُّهيلي الوليديّ خيرُ مَنْ

    تنال المعالي كفهُّ وتُنيلُ

    And indeed al-Suhaylī al-Walīdī is the best of those

    Whose hand attains high honors and bestows them.

  10. جميلُ المحُيّا والخلائقُ جارُه

    عزيٌ وجارُ الأكثَرين ذليلُ

    He is fair of face and character; his neighbor

    Is honored, while most men's neighbor is abased.

  11. تمنعه لمعُ الأسنةِ دُوُنَه

    فليسَ لذي هَضْمٍ إليه وصول

    The gleam of spearheads before him protects him,

    So no one intent on oppression can reach him.

  12. يمد يداً من ناصِح الدين لم يزَلْ يدل

    لِتِلكَ على أيدي البريّة طولُ

    He extends a hand from Nāṣiḥ al-Dīn, ever showing

    That hand's preeminence over the hands of humankind.

  13. ويسعى كمسعاه ويبني كمجده

    نعم ويجيل الطرف حيث يجيل

    And he emulates his striving and builds a glory like his;

    Yes, and he turns his gaze where the other turns his.

  14. وإن خَفِيَتْ انسابُ قومٍ فإنه

    لكالشمسِ لا يُبْغَى عليه دليلُ

    And though some people's lineages are obscure, he is indeed

    Like the sun—no proof of him is needed.

  15. لئن كان عيدُ الفطر أقبل زائرا

    فزارتك فيه نعمة وقبول

    If indeed Eid al-Fiṭr has come as a visitor,

    Then may blessing and acceptance visit you during it.

  16. ولازلت تقضيه وأضعاف مثلِه

    بعز مدى الأيام ليسَ يزول

    And may you ever celebrate it, and many more like it,

    In honor that never fades for as long as days endure.