وَرَكبٍ تَفَرّى بَينَهُم قِطَعُ الدُجى

يَسيرُ عَلى البَيداءِ يَنتَهِبُ التُربا

On horses they dispersed across the dark desert,

Riding the wilderness, plundering the dust.

يَصُدّونَ عَن وِردِ الكَرى وَعُيونُهُم

خَوامِسُ حَتّى تَشرَبُ المَنظَرَ العَذبا

They shun the valley's roses and springs,

Their eyes bleary until the sweet sights are drunk.

إِذا ذَعَرَتهُم نَبأَةٌ غادَرَتهُمُ

وَقَد أَيقَظوا مِن بَينِ أَجفانِها القُضبا

If rumors startle and send them packing,

Though awoken from its lids, sleep still weighs down their lids.

سَرَوا وَخُيولُ اللَيلِ دُهمٌ وَعَرَّسوا

وَقَد غادَروها في طِرادِ الضُحى شُهبا

They went off leading the steeds of night, a dim host departing

Fleeing with dawn's light still trailing embers behind.

يَضوعُ هَجيرُ السَيرِ بَينَ رِحالِهِم

إِذا ما نَسيمُ اللَيلِ في ثَوبِهِ هَبّا

The caravan's trudge moans between their mounts' packs

When the night's breeze stirs and gusts through its robe.