تأوَّبَ طّيفُ رَايةَ من بعيدِ
لنَا سَحَراً ونحنُ بِبرّ قَعيدِ
A banner's phantom gleamed from afar
As dawn's light filled our tent and awoke us there
سَرى والَّليلُ قَد ألقى جِراناً
وباتَ يطوفُ بالرّكب الهُجود
The caravan marched on and night cast down its veils
Wandering amidst the kneeling camels as they stood
ألمَّ فَلمَّ صدعاً في فؤادي
وأطفأ لَوعتي بَعدَ الوَقُود
My heart was cleft and my torment relieved
Once the fires inside were quelled for good
وإنَّي لي اهتدَيتَ دُجيً ودُوني
نعِافُ مخارمٍ وقفافُ بيدِ
Though in the dark I roamed, bereft of guide
With only hilltops and far meadows in my sight
وكيف رأيتَ رَاية يَا خَيالاً
أراني وصلتها بعدَ الصُّدود
How did you glimpse that banner, O my soul?
Beyond the barriers that impede my steps
أقامت بالصُّفيحةِ أمْ تولّتْ
لنجدٍ أم رِماحٍ أم زَرُودِ
Does it still stand atop the hut, or has it gone
To Najd, or spears, or Dhu Ruwa's abode,
وبيتِ خرآئدٍ حورٍ حسانٍ
نواعم من بناتِ الصيدِ غيدِ
The home of lovely houri maids, most fair
Of desert girls, so elegant and proud?
إذا أزْمَعن قَتلَ عَميدِ قَومٍ
كشَفْنَ عن الترائبِ والنُّهودِ
When they prepare to slay a chieftain bold
They bare their swords and raise the battle shout
يطُفنَ بِرايةٍ شَغفاً وَحُباً
طوفَ الوفد بالبيتِ المجيدِ
They circle round the flag infatuated, thrilled with love
As pilgrims circle round the Sacred House
دَخلتُ فَقُمنَ تَعظيماً لِعزّي
كما قَامَ الإِماءُ إلى العميدِ
I entered and they rose in reverence for my rank
As handmaids rise before their lord and chief
وكاِئنْ ليلةٍ مُتّعِتُ فِيها
بوصل هضيمةِ الكشْحينِ رُودِ
On such a night was I consoled and cheered
By a slim-waisted beauty, fair of face and hair,
خَدلجّةٍ خبرنجةٍ رَداجٍ
مُنعَّمةٍ مُمنَّعةٍ مَيُود
Rosy-cheeked, soft-skinned, plump and round
A slender form whose radiant cheeks outshone
شموعٍ رَخصةِ الأطراف خَودِ
تَمايلُ في القلائدِ والعُقودِ
Her necklaces and rings in graceful poise
When she arises she is gaily teased
بَخنداة إذا نهضتْ لأْمرٍ
تُجاذبها الرَّوادُِف للقُعودِ
By the necklaces that grapple for her throat
O banner mine, none other can compare
أرَايةُ ما وحسنكِ رَاقَ طَرفي
سِواكِ فلا وذي العرشِ المجيدِ
To you, except the Lord of Majesty Divine
For you I'll roam the wilderness, enthralled
أجُوب لكِ المفاوزَ والمَوامي
وأقضي العُمرَ بالهمّ الشَّديد
And live a life consumed by this torment of mine
With just your phantom I'll find some content
بِطيفكِ قَدْ قَنْعت فإبعثيه
وَفقدُ الماءِ يُقنعُ بالصَّعيدِ
As thirsty men are sated by the desert sand
When racks of thirst allow no satiety
وفي المُرِّ الأجاجِ غني لصادٍ
إذا كانَ الظّماء إلى مَزيدِ
Your mirage still nourishes this dream of mine
