تَحِنُّ نياقُ الظاعنين وما لها

تَحِنُّ وفي القلب المشوق حَنينُ

The she-camels of the departing travelers yearn—what ails them?

They yearn, while yearning fills the lover’s heart.

أبالنوقِ ما بالنازحينَ من الأسى

وَوَجْدٌ بأحشاءِ الضلوع كمينُ

Is it the camels? What, then, of those gone far away, with all their sorrow—

And passion lying hidden within their ribs?

ولما التقينا للوداع عشيةً

وباحَتْ بأسرار الغرام عيون

And when we met one evening to say farewell,

Eyes disclosed the secrets of our passion.

بذلتُ لها من هذه العين عبرةً

وإنِّي بها لولا الفراق ضنين

From this eye I offered her a tear,

Though, but for parting, I would have begrudged it.

فلا القلب لما أرفعَ الركبُ صابرٌ

ولا الدَّمع من يوم الفراق مصون

The heart had no patience when the caravan moved away,

Nor have tears been held in check since parting’s day.

فلولاك ما قاسيت يا غاية المنى

حوادث تقسو مرّة وتلين

Were it not for you, O utmost reach of desire, I would never have endured

Ordeals that now grow harsh and now relent.

إذا كنتِ لا تدرين ما الشوق بالحشا

سَليني عن الأشواق كيف تكون

If you do not know what longing is within the breast,

Ask me how yearnings are.

جُنِنتُ بذكر العامريّة والهوى

جنونٌ ولكنَّ الجنونَ فنون

At the mention of the ʿĀmiriyya—and of love—I went mad:

Madness indeed, but madness has many forms.