رَكبٌ تَساقَوا عَلى الأَكوارِ بَينَهُمُ

كَأسَ الكَرى فَاِنتَشى المَسقِيُّ وَالساقي

A group rode on saddled camels between them

A caravan that passed, atop their saddles, among themselves,

Was a cup of wine so the one who pours and the pourer were delighted

The cup of slumber, till server and served were drunk.

كَأَنَّ أَرؤُسَهُم وَالنَومُ واضِعُها

عَلى المَناكِبِ لَم توصَل بِأَعناقِ

As if their heads and sleep placing them

As though their heads, which sleep had laid to rest

On the shoulders did not reach the necks

Upon their shoulders, were joined by no necks at all.

خاضوا إِلَيكُم بِحارَ اللَيلِ آوِنَةً

حَتّى أَناخوا إِلَيكُم فَلَّ أَشواقِ

They sailed to you in the sea of the night for an instant

They waded toward you through the oceans of the night,

Until they anchored to you, so the passions fell

Until they made kneel the exhausted remnants of desire.

مِن كُلِّ جائِلَةِ النِسعَينِ ضامِرَةٍ

مُشتاقَةٍ حَمَلَت عِبءً لِمُشتاقِ

From every lovelorn young woman yearning

On every lean mount with loose and shifting straps,

Yearning, she carried the load for the longing one

A yearning beast bearing a yearning burden.

وَالحُسنُ مِنكِ يَطوفُ العاشِقونَ بِهِ

فَأَنتِ مَوسِمُ رُوّادٍ وَعُشّاقِ

And beauty from you, around which the lovers roam

Your beauty is a shrine that lovers circle round,

So you are the season of visitors and lovers

For you are the pilgrimage season of seekers and of hearts.