رَايةُ يا ذاتَ الخبا والهَودَج

ورَبةَ الطَّوقِ وذاتَ الدُّملجِ

The flag, O one with allure and charm

Mistress of necklaces and one with smooth skin

والدَّلِّ والصَّلتِ الجبينِ الأبلجِ

والحاجبِ المستحسنِ المُزَّججِ

And grace and connected forehead, snow-white

With beautiful, well-shaped eyebrows

والخدِّ والطّرف الكحيل الأدعجِ

هَلْ نظرةٌ لعاِشقٍ مُهَّيجِ

And cheek and kohl-lined eyes, most alluring

Does a glimpse go to a fervent lover

نآءٍ عَنِ الأهلِ بعيدِ المَنْهجٍ

لم يَرعنْ حُكم الهوى منَ مخرجِ

A wailing woman, far from family, lost

Who did not heed the rule of passion or its way out

هلاَّ ذكرتِ عَهدنا بمنْعجِ

ونحن ما بينَ الغَضَا والعرفجِ

Why not recall our pact in intimacy

While we were between modesty and virtue

في خفضِ عيشٍ ونعيمٍ سجسج

لم نحتِفل لعاذلٍ مُهّيِجِ

In easy living and continual comfort

We did not care for a fervent chider

لقد سللتِ سيفَ جفنٍ أدْعج

عَلى هُمامٍ أروعٍ مُتَوَّجِ

Indeed, you have unsheathed the sword of an eyelid, most adorned

Against aspirations, most eminent and crowned

نُصرةُ مخذولٍ ومَلجا مُلتَجي

يطوي القفارَ بالنَّياقِ العُسَّجِ

Aiding a forsaken one, and refuge for a seeker

Traversing the deserts with sturdy she-camels

الشَّذَّنيات النَّواجي الوَّسجِ

لكي يَراك يا مهاة الهَودَجِ

Yearning, brilliant, white she-camels

That he may see you, O allure of charm

سألت ذَا العرش الذي لْم يُحرج

فارج كلّ كُربةٍ لْم تفُرجِ

I asked the Throne that never falters

To relieve all distress that did not get relieved

أن يُبلّغني في الهَوى ما أرَتجي

من َلثمِ خدّ رايةَ المُضرَّجِ

To convey to me in passion what I wish

From the kiss of Raiya’s reddened cheek

ورشَفِ ظَلمِ ثَغرِها المُفَّلجِ

بَل ربَّ دَوَ سبْسَبٍ لم ينهج

And sip of the darkness of her parted lips

But, by the Lord, how far the path I have not taken

جاوزتُها بعَيْسَجورٍ نيزَج

ناجيةٍ تَملعُ مَلْعَ الأهوجِ

I skipped past her on a quick she-camel, elegant

A brilliant star, shining like unripe dates

كأنَّ رحلي في ذُرى سَفنَّجِ

أو مِسحلٍ عَبلِ الشَّوى مُشحَّجِ

As if my camel were amidst anchored ships

Or a heated cooking pot, firing hot

يَبرى انْصلاتاً ِلأتانٍ سَمحجِ

أمَّ مَتى تمعجُ سَيراً يمعّجِ

It gallops powerfully like a strong-legged she-camel

When will it ever journey with haste

وَضَيْعمٍ مُستلئِمٍ مُدَّجج

شَهمِ جَنانٍ شمرْيٍ أبلجِ

To a friendly, welcoming, fully loaded encampment

Valiant heroes, courageous and brilliant

عمَّمتُهُ بِحدّ سيفٍ أعْوَجِ

كم شقَّ من هامةٍ ليثٍ مرهجٍ

I have rallied them with the edge of a curved sword

How it split the skull of a ferocious roaring lion