بُسَيطَةُ مَهلاً سُقيتِ القِطارا

تَرَكتِ عُيونَ عَبيدي حَيارى

O Basiyta, slowly the train passed by

O Basita, gently! May you be watered by the pouring rain,

Leaving my slaves' eyes bewildered

For you have left the eyes of my servants lost in bewilderment;

فَظَنّوا النِعامَ عَلَيكِ النَخيلَ

وَظَنّوا الصِوارَ عَلَيكِ المَنارا

They mistook the ostriches for palm trees upon you

They mistook the ostriches upon your sands for palm trees,

And the whistles for minarets upon you

And thought the herds of wild cattle were towering beacons,

فَأَمسَكَ صَحبي بِأَكوارِهِم

وَقَد قَصَدَ الضِحكُ فيهِم وَجارا

So my companions held back their buckets

So my companions clutched their saddles to steady themselves,

As laughter began to spread among them

As laughter burrowed deep within them, finding a den.