ألا حيّ المنازلَ بالعقيق

تحيةَ عاشقٍ صبّ شفيقِ

O dwellings of 'Uqayq, may you be greeted

Behold, greet the dwellings at Al-Aqiq,

With the affection of a yearning, passionate lover

With the salutation of a lover, yearning and tender.

وقفتُ بها أبكيها طويلا

فما رحمت بكايَ ولا شهيقي

I stood by them weeping for so long

I stood there long, weeping over them,

Yet my crying brought no mercy, nor my sobbing

Yet they showed no mercy to my tears nor my sobs.

منازلَ لا يزال يهيجُ شوقي

اليها اللامعاتُ من البروقِ

Dwellings that still stir my ardour

Abodes where my longing is constantly stirred,

With the flashes of lightning striking them

Drawn there by the flashing gleam of lightning.

وأحسنُ من وقوفي في المغاني

وقوفُ مشوقةٍ لفتى مشوقِ

And better than my standing is singing songs

And fairer than my standing in the ruined camps,

Is the standing of a lovely one by a lovely youth

Is the standing of a yearning girl before a yearning youth.

وأنزَهُ منظراً في رسمِ دارٍ

منازلُ في ذرى قصرٍ أنيق

And a scene more splendid in a house's image

And a sight more joyous than a crumbled trace,

Are dwellings amidst the sand of a graceful palace

Are dwellings high within an elegant palace.

وأطربُ من مطارحةٍ بنجوى

مطارقةُ الجواري للطروقِ

And more enchanting than whispering endearments

And I find more music in the exchange of whispers,

Is the drumming of slave girls on leather skins

When maidens strike the instruments to play.

واشهى من معانقةٍ لقَرنٍ

معانقةُ الصديقةِ للصديق

And more delicious than embracing a companion

And sweeter to desire than grappling with a foe,

Is the embracing of a lover by her beloved

Is the embrace of a mistress to her lover.

وأيسر من مباكرةِ الأعادي

مباكرةُ الحبيبِ لدى الشروقِ

And easier than accosting enemies at dawn

And easier than confronting enemies at dawn,

Is the accosting of the lover at daybreak

Is a morning visit to the beloved at sunrise.

وأهونُ خطّةٍ من رتقِ فتقٍ

صبوحُ الكأسِ من بعد الغبوقِ

And lighter than a camel litter's creaking

And a lighter burden than mending a breach in state,

Is the morning cup after the night clouds' breaking

Is the morning wine-cup following the evening draft.

وأشجى نغمةٍ من صوتٍ طبل

حنينُ الزيرِ مع وترٍ نطوقِ

And more poignant than drum's exquisite tune

And a melody more touching than the war-drum’s boom,

Is the yearning of strings with a melodious croon

Is the high string's sigh paired with a speaking chord.

وأروحُ من طرادِ الخيل ركضاً

طرادُكَ كل مياسٍ لبيقِ

And more soothing than horses chased at a run

And more refreshing than the galloping chase of steeds,

Is your chasing away every screaming one

Is your pursuit of every swaying, graceful beauty.

وأطيبُ من مُنازلةٍ لحربٍ

منازلةُ الدنان من الرحيقِ

And sweeter than taking turns in battle

And better than engaging in the clash of war,

Is taking turns sipping from the wine ladle

Is engaging with wine-jars filled with nectar.

فخفقٌ بالطبولِ من الملاهي

أحبُّ إليّ من عَلَمٍ خَفوق

So drums' beating in revelry's clamour

For the beating of drums in halls of revelry,

Please me more than a swaying standard

Is dearer to me than a fluttering battle-flag.

ورميُ الحورِ بالتفاح نحوي

سوى رمي العدى بالمنجنيقِ

And huri's apple-throwing toward me

And the casting of apples by maidens towards me,

Beats foe's pelting me with the mangonel

Is unlike the enemy casting stones with catapults.

ومجلسُ لذّةٍ بسماع لهوٍ

ألذُّ من الجلوس على الطريق

And a pleasure gathering's listening to jokes

And a gathering of pleasure, listening to mirth,

Is nicer than sitting on the highway

Is more delightful than a vigil by the roadside.

ومشيُ وصيفةٍ تسعى بكأس

مضمّخة السوالفِ بالخلوق

And cupbearer's gait in her sky-blue dress

And the gait of a handmaiden hastening with a cup,

With wine spilling on her smooth elbows

Her tresses perfumed with the scent of saffron,

ألذُّ من التجالدِ بالعوالي

ومن مشي الفريق إلى الفريق

Is nicer than attacking with lofty poems

Is more delightful than the fencing with long spears,

And moving from one group to another

And the marching of one army against another.

فهذا الرأيُ لا رأيٌ سواهُ

فشدّ يديكَ بالرأي الوثيقِ

So this view, and no other view,

This is the true view—there is no view but this,

Grasp it tightly, keep this creed true

So hold fast with your hands to this firm opinion.