وَناعِمَةٍ تَجلو بِعودِ أَراكَةٍ

وَناعِمَةٍ تَجلو بِعودِ أَراكَةٍ

مُؤَشِّرَةً يَسبي المُعانِقَ طيبُها

مُؤَشِّرَةً يَسبي المُعانِقَ طيبُها

And a delicate woman polishes with an arak twig

Softly she rises, sweetened by aloes wood,

her finely serrated teeth; her fragrance captivates whoever embraces her.

Beguiling with her scent and graceful pose.

كَأَنَّ بِها خَمراً بِماءِ غَمامَةٍ

كَأَنَّ بِها خَمراً بِماءِ غَمامَةٍ

إِذا اِرتُشِفَت بَعدَ الرُقادِ غُروبُها

إِذا اِرتُشِفَت بَعدَ الرُقادِ غُروبُها

As though her mouth held wine mixed with water from a cloud,

As though musk-laced wine from clouds were poured

when the moisture of her teeth is sipped after sleep.

When stars their vigil cease at night's repose.

أَراكَ إِلى نَجدٍ تَحِنُّ وَإِنَّما

أَراكَ إِلى نَجدٍ تَحِنُّ وَإِنَّما

مُنى كُلِّ نَفسٍ حَيثُ كانَ حَبيبُها

مُنى كُلِّ نَفسٍ حَيثُ كانَ حَبيبُها

I see you yearning toward Najd; yet

Though you may long for Nejd's uplands bare

every soul's desires lie only where its beloved is.

Each soul must find its joy where love has grown.