عُوجا خَلِيلَيَّ عَلى المَحضَرِ

أَلرَّبعِ مِن سَلّامَةَ المُقفِرِ

My companion at the council-place, turn aside,

Seeking protection from desolation.

عُوجا بِهِ فَاِستَنطِقُوهُ فَقَد

ذَكَّرَني ما كُنتُ لَم أَذكُرِ

Turn aside—question me concerning him, for he

Has recalled what I had forgotten.

ذَكَّرَني سَلمى وَأَيّامَها

إِذ جاوَرَتنا بِلِوى عَسجَرِ

He recalled Salma and our days together

When she dwelt near us at rugged Asjar.

بِالرَبعِ مِن وَدّانَ مَبدىً لَنا

وَمَحوَراً ناهِيكَ مِن مَحوَرِ

By the fourteenth night of parting she was to us

A pivot—need I say?—of pivots.

في مَحضَرٍ كُنّا بِهِ نَلتَقي

يا حَبَّذا ذَلِكَ مِن مَحضَرِ

At the council where we were wont to foregather—

Ah, happy, happy council!

إِذ نَحنُ وَالحَيُّ بِهِ جِيرَةٌ

فِيما مَضى مِن سالِفِ الأَعصُرِ

We and the living tribe about us there

Were neighbors, in ages long fled.