قَد قُلتُ لَيلَةَ ساروا

وَما اِستَبانَ النَهارُ

I said on the night they departed,

Before the dawn had yet broken,

وَقَد خَلَينَ الدِيارُ

مِنهُم فَلا آثارُ

When the dwellings stood empty,

Bereft of them, with no traces left,

لِصاحِبٍ يُستَشارُ

أَأَنجَدوا أَم أَغاروا

Speaking to a companion sought for counsel:

"Have they climbed to the highlands or descended to the lowlands?"

فَقَد أَساؤوا وَجاروا

لَمّا تَوَلّى القِطارُ

For they have done wrong and acted unjustly,

When the caravan turned away to depart.

وَفيهِمُ أَبكارُ

وُجوهُهُنَّ نُضارُ

Amongst them are young maidens,

Their faces gleaming like pure gold,

وَطيبُهُنَّ الصَوارُ

وَفيهُمُ مَصطارُ

Their fragrance like the scent of musk;

And amongst them, an intoxicating youth,

كَلامُهُ سَحّارُ

وَوَجهُهُ نَوّارُ

His speech is utter enchantment,

And his face is a radiant blossom,

كَأَنَّهُ الدينارُ

دُموعُ عَينَي غِزارُ

Shining bright as a golden dinar.

The tears from my eyes are copious,

لَها عَلَيَّ اِنحِدارُ

وَنَومُ عَينَي غِرارُ

Pouring down upon me incessantly,

And sleep visits my eyes but briefly.

وَفَوقَ رَأسي غُبارُ

وَتَحتَ رِجلي بِحارُ

Upon my head lies the dust of grief,

While beneath my feet lie vast seas,

وَحَشوُ رِجلي شَرارُ

فَأَينَ أَينَ الفِرارُ

And my very steps are filled with fire.

So where, oh where, is the escape?

ما لي عَلى ذا قَرارُ

يا رَبُّ يا جَبّارُ

I have no endurance for this state.

O Lord, O Almighty Compeller,

الواحِدُ القَهّارُ

أَنتَ الَّذي تُستَجارُ

The One, the Subduer of all,

You are the One whose refuge is sought,

وَبي أُمورٌ كِبارُ

وَفي حَبيبي اِزوِرارُ

For I am beset by grievous burdens.

My beloved turns away in aversion,

عَني وَفيهِ نِفارُ

فَلَيسَ تُلهي العُقارُ

Shunning me with distant estrangement.

Even fine wine offers no distraction from him,

عَنهُ وَلا المِزمارُ

إِذا النَدامى أَداروا

Nor does the music of the flute,

When the drinking companions pass around

ما يَمدَحُ الخَمّارُ

حَمراءَ فيها اِصفِرارُ

That which the vintner praises:

Red wine infused with golden hues,

وَعِندَهُم عَمّارُ

مُنَعَّمٌ بُندارُ

Served in the presence of 'Ammar,

A pampered, wealthy merchant,

في حَقوِهِ زُنّارُ

With a monk's belt cinched around his waist.