فَلو طاوَعَتني آلُ سَلمى إِبنِ مالِكٍ

لَأَعطَيتُ مَهراً مِن مَسَرَّةَ غالِيا

If only the family of Salma ibnal-Malik would allow me

I would give a generous dowry from the delights of Masraa

وَسِربٍ كَسِربِ العَينِ مِن آلِ جَعفَرٍ

يُغادينَ بِالكُحلِ العُيونِ السَواجِيا

And a group like the gazelles of the family of Ja'far

Strolling with kohl around their languid eyes

إِذا ما هَبَطنَ النيلَ أَو كُنَّ دونَهُ

بِسَروِ الحِمى أَلقَينَ ثَمَّ المَراسِيا

When the Nile descends or they are below it

At the acacia trees, they then cast the poles

لَقَد حَرَّمت أُمّي عَلَيَّ عَدِمتُها

كَرائِمَ قَومي ثُمَّ قِلَّةُ مالِيا

My mother has forbidden me because of her death

The virtues of my people as well as my lack of money