أَلاَ أَبلِغَا هِنداً سَلامِي وَإِن نَأَت

فَقَلبِي بِها مُذ شَطَّتِ الدَّارُ مُدنَفُ

O messenger, convey my greetings to Hind, though she be far,

For my heart has pined for her since the encampment moved on.

وَلَم أَرَ هِنداً بَعدَ مَوقِفِ سَاعَةٍ

بِأَنعَمَ في أهلِ الدِّيَارِ تُطَوِّفُ

I've not seen, since that moment we parted, a fairer woman,

Gracefully strolling amongst her own folk.

أَتَتَ بَينَ أَترَابٍ تمايَسُ إِذ مَشَت

دَبِيبَ القَطَا أَوهُنَّ مِنهُنَّ أَقطَفُ

She came between comrades, walking with the gait

Of a delicate gazelle, softer than they.

يَبَاكِرنَ مِرآةً جَلِيًّا وَفَارَةً

ذَكِيًّا وبالأَيدِي مَدَاكٌ وَمِسوَفُ

In the early morn she appears, face unveiled, shimmering,

Bearing a mirror and kohl stick in hand.

أَشَارَت إلَينَا في حَيَاءٍ ورَاعَهَا

سَراةَ الضُّحَى مِنِّي عَلَى الحَيّ مَوقِفُ

She gestured to me shyly as I stood there,

Dazzled by the radiance of dawn upon her beauty.

وقالت تَبَاعَد يَا ابنَ عَمِّي فَإِنَّنِي

مُنيِتُ بِذِي صَولٍ يغارُ ويَعنُفُ

And she said “Keep your distance, cousin, for I am promised

To a jealous, violent man who would be angered."