أَلا عُلِّقَ القَلبُ المُتَيَّمُ كَلثَما

لَجاجاً وَلَم يَلزَم مِنَ الحُبِّ مَلزَما

Alas! My lonely heart clung closely, obstinately,

Yet did not commit itself to lasting love.

خَرَجتُ بَها مِن بَطنِ مَكَّةَ بَعدَما

أَصاتَ المُنادي بِالصَلاةِ فَأَعتَما

With her I left Mecca's valley after dusk prayers

When darkness filled the mosque and it grew dim.

فَما نامَ مِن داعٍ وَلا اِرتَدَّ سامِرٌ مِ

نَ اللَيلِ حَتّى جاوَزَت بي يَلَملَما

No late worshipper remained, no straggler lingered there

Through the long night until the darkness thinned.

وَمَرَّت بِبَطنِ اللَيثِ تَهوى كَأَنَّها

تُبادِر بِالإِصباحِ نَهباً مُقَسَّما

Past Leith's steep valley the camels sped as though

They rushed to gain a share of morning spoil.

أَجازَت عَلى البَزواءِ وَاللَيلُ كاسِرٌ

جَناحَيهِ بِالبَزواءِ وَردا وَأَدهَما

They crossed Bazwa's valley while the night spread wings

Over Bazwa, halting there to rest awhile.

وَمَرَّت عَلى أَشَّطانِ رَوقَةَ بِالضُحى

فَما جَرَّرَت لِلماءِ عَيناً وَلا فَما

They passed by Ashshan of Rauqah at dawn, no lip

Or eye sought water in the morning light.

فَما ذَرَّ قَرنُ الشَمسِ حَتّى تَبَيَّنَت

بِعلبَت مَخلاً مُشرِقاً وَمُخَيَّما

Scarce had the sun's first rays appeared when ahead

Loomed Aleppo's plain, radiant, decked in white.

وَما شَرِبَت حَتّى ثَنَيتُ زِمامَها

وَخِفتُ عَلَيها أَن نَجُنَّ وَتُكلَما

No drinking-stop before, however thirsty, till

I turned the camels, fearing we might fail,

فَقُلتُ لَها قَد تِعتِ غَيرَ ذَميمَةٍ

وَأَصبَحَ وادي البِركِ غَيثاً مُدَيَّما

And said: "You could outstrip a less fine she-camel,

And Wadi Birk this morning wears a veil."