لَمّا نَغَم الحداة وَالعَيسُ تَساق

لَمّا نَغَم الحداة وَالعَيسُ تَساق

وَالأَنفُسُ حَثَّها لَدى البين سياق

وَالأَنفُسُ حَثَّها لَدى البين سياق

When the camel-drivers sang and the white camels were driven on,

When the moaners moaned and the cooing turtledove,

And at parting, death's pangs spurred the souls on,

And the souls hastened toward the beautiful beloved,

نادَيتُ وَأَوجَفوا المَطايا عَنَقاً

نادَيتُ وَأَوجَفوا المَطايا عَنَقاً

رِفقاً بِقَوارير قُلوب العُشّاق

رِفقاً بِقَوارير قُلوب العُشّاق

I cried out as they urged the mounts into a brisk pace:

I called out and the camels raised their necks,

Be gentle with the glass vessels of lovers' hearts!

Gently, like the vessels of lovers' hearts.