أَلا حَيِّ الدِيارَ وَإِن تَعَفَّت

وَقَد ذَكَّرنَ عَهدَكَ بِالخَميلِ

O dweller of the abodes, though they are desolate,

And your abode reminded us of intimacy,

وَكَم لَكَ بِالمُجَيمِرِ مِن مَحَلٍّ

وَبِالعَزّافِ مِن طَلَلٍ مُحيلِ

And you have many a station at Al-Mujaymir,

And at Al-'Azzaf, a ruined encampment.

وَقَد خَلَتِ الطُلولُ مِن آلِ لَيلى

فَما لَكَ لا تُفيقُ عَنِ الطُلولِ

The night companions have departed from Layla's family,

So why do you not awaken from night companions?

وَإِن قالَ العَواذِلُ قَد شَجاهُ

مَحَلُّ الحَيِّ مِن لَبَبِ الأَميلِ

And if the censurers say you are love-smitten,

The abode of the living is for intimate friendship.

لَقَد شَعَفَ الفُؤادَ غَداةَ رَهبى

تَفَرُّقُ نِيَّةِ الأَنَسِ الحُلولِ

My heart was captivated one morning by yearning,

When the intent of companionship was disrupted.

إِذا رَحَلوا جَزِعتَ وَإِن أَقاموا

فَما يُجدي المُقامُ على الرَحيلِ

You are anguished if they depart and if they stay,

So staying does not avail against departing.

أَخِلّايَ الكِرامُ سِوى سَدوسٍ

وَما لي في سَدوسٍ مِن خَليلِ

I have no intimate friend save for Sedous,

And I have no friend in Sedous.

إِذا أَنزَلتَ رَحلَكَ في سَدوسٍ

فَقَد أُنزِلتَ مَنزِلَةَ الذَليلِ

If you camp in Sedous,

You have camped in a position of disgrace.

وَقَد عَلِمَت سَدوسٌ أَنَّ فيها

مَنارَ اللُؤمِ واضِحَةَ السَبيلِ

And Sedous knows that in it

Are manifest the fires of cowardice.

فَما أَعطَت سَدوسٌ مِن كَثيرٍ

وَلا حامَت سَدوسٌ عَن قَليلِ

Sedous did not give much,

Nor did Sedous withhold little.