ماذا رُزِئنا غَداةَ النَحِلِّ مِن رِمَعٍ

عِندَ التَفَرُّقِ مِن خِيرٍ وَمِن كَرَمِ

What were we denied after the bees left

When we parted from bounty and generosity?

ظَلَّ لَنا واقِفاً يُعطى فَأَكثَرُ ما

سَمّى وَقالَ لَنا في قَولِهِ نَعَمِ

He remained standing, giving generously,

Naming and telling us “yes” in his words.

ثُمَّ اِنتَحى غَيرَ مَذمومِ وَأَعيُنُنا

لَمّا تَوَلّى بِدَمعِ واكِفٍ سَجِمِ

Then he withdrew, beyond reproach, while our eyes

When he turned away, shed tears that lingered.

تَحمِلُهُ الناقَةُ الأَدماءُ مُعتَجِزاً

بِالبُردِ كَالبَدرِ رِجَلّى لَيلَةَ الظُلَمِ

The russet camel carries him wearily

In the cold like the moon, his legs on a moonless night.

وَكَيفَ أَنساكَ لا أَيديكَ واحِدَةٌ

عِندي وَلا بِالَّذي أَسدَيتَ مِن قِدَمِ

How could I forget you? Not one of your hands

Remains with me, nor what you gave generously.

حَتّى لَقينا بَحيراً عِندَ مَقدَمِنا

في مَوكِبٍ كَضِباعِ الحَزنِ مُزدَحِمِ

Until we met a lake before us

In a procession, like the gazelles of sorrow crowded together.

فَلَو رَأَيتَ مَقامي عِندَ بابِهِمُ

أَحبَبتَ أَنّي بِذاكَ البابِ لَم أُقِمِ

If you could see me standing at their door,

You would want me never to have stood at that door.