يا دِيارَ الكَواعِبِ

بَينَ صَنعا فَمارِبِ

O home of the fair maidens

Between Sanaa and Marib

جادَكِ السَعدُ غُدوَةً

وَالثُرَيّا بِصائِبِ

Good fortune smiled on you one dawn

And rain poured down in torrents

مِن هَزيمٍ كَأَنَّما

يَرتَمي بِالقَواضِبِ

Like a defeated army in retreat

Pelted with stones

في اِصطِفاقٍ وَرَنَّةٍ

وَاِعتِراكِ المَواكِبِ

Amidst cries of joy and trilling tongues

And stamping of feet

دارُ مَن زانَهُ السُمو

طُ مَعاً بِالتَرائِبِ

Home of one graced with glory

Whose ropes creak under the weight

جيدُ رِئمٍ مُكَحَّلٍ

يَرتَعي بِالذَنائِبِ

The smooth cheek of a fawn

Grazing on the tips of branches

غائِبٌ عَنكَ وُدُّهُ

شاهِدٌ مِثلُ غائِبِ

One whose love is absent from you

Yet present like one who is absent

رُبَّ بيدٍ وَدونَها

ناضِبٌ أَو كَناضِبِ

Perhaps in ambush or lying in wait

A bow ever ready to shoot arrows

وَذُرى قُفِّ سَبسَبٍ

لاحِقٍ بِالسَباسِبِ

I approached you

Protected by impenetrable armor

قَد تَجَشَّمتُ نَحوَكُم

بِعِتاقِ النَجائِبِ

I have with me only a sharp sword

By God, it shall defend me

ما مَعي غَيرُ صارِمٍ

لِيَ وَاللَهُ صاحِبي