خَليلَيَّ مِن غَيظِ بنِ مُرَّةَ بَلِّغا

رَسائِلَ مِنّي لا أزيدُكُما وِقرا

My two friends, convey from me to Ibn Murrah's son

Messages - though they won't increase your esteem -

أَلا لَيتَ شِعري هَل إِلى أُمِّ جَحدَرٍ

سَبيلٌ فَأَمّا الصَبرُ عَنها فَلا صَبرا

Oh, would that I knew! Is there a way to Umm Jandar's abode?

As for patience without her, there is no patience!

وَإِنّي لأَستَنشي الحَديثَ لأَجلِها

لأَسمَعَ عَنها وَهيَ نازِحَةٌ ذِكرا

I busy myself with talk only for her sake,

That I may hear news of her as she journey's on.

وَأَعجَبُ دارٍ دارُها غَيرَ أَنَّني

إِذا ما أَتَيتُ الدَارَ تَرجِعُني صِفرا

And I find her home the most wondrous of homes, though

When I come to her abode it sends me back empty.

عَشِيَّةَ ألوي بِالرِداءِ عَلى الحَشا

كَأَنّ الحَشا مِن دونِهِ مُشعَلٌ جَمرا

In the evening I wrap myself in my cloak by the enclosure

As if without it the enclosure were flaming embers.