وَآخِرُ عَهدي بِالرَبابِ مَقالُها

أَلَستَ تَرى مَن حَولَنا فَتَرَقَّبا

My last words to Rabab as she spoke

Don’t you see those around us, so wait and watch

مِنَ الضَوءِ وَالسُمّارُ فيهِم مُكَذِّبٌ

جَريءٌ عَلَينا أَن يَقولَ فَيَكذِبا

From the light and gossip - among them a slanderer

Bold enough to speak of us and lie

فَقُلتُ لَها في اللَهِ وَاللَيلُ ساتِرٌ

فَلا تَشعَبي إِن تُسأَلي العُرفَ مَشعِبا

So I said to her, by God and the veiling night

Do not diverge if asked the path forked in two

فَصَدَّت وَقالَت بَل تُريدُ فَضيحَتي

فَأَحبِب إِلى قَلبي بِها مُتَغَضِّبا

So she turned away and said you only want my shame

Making my heart for her angry and provoked

وَباتَت تُفاتيني لَعوبٌ كَأَنَّها

مَهاةٌ تُراعي بِالصَرائِمِ رَبرَبا

And she evaded me playing tricks like

A prowling wolf eyeing the flock’s sheep

فَلَمّا تَقَضّى اللَيلُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُ

وَأَعنَقَ تالي نَجمِهِ فَتَصَوَّبا

So when the night ended except its last

And the stars lowered their gaze and took cover

وَقالَت تَكَفَّت حانَ مِن عَينِ كاشِحٍ

هُبوبٌ وَأَخشى الصُبحَ أَن يَتَصَوَّبا

She said enough, the eye of dawn casts light

I fear the morn may shine its sun soon over

فَجِئتُ مَجوداً بِالكَرى باتَ سَرجُهُ

وِساداً لَهُ يَنحاشُ أَن يَتَقَلَّبا

So I came leading the mule, its saddle upright

A pillow for it, shuffling not to turn over

فَقُلتُ لَهُ أَسرِج نُوائِل فَقَد بَدا

تَباشيرُ مَعروفٍ مِنَ الصُبحِ أَشهَبا

I said saddle the she-camel for morn has come

Harbingers of daybreak from dawn red as ember

فَأَصبَحتُ مِن دارِ الرَبابِ بِبَلدَةٍ

بَعيدٍ وَلَو أَحبَبتُ أَن أَتَقَرَّبا

And I left Rabab’s abode for a town afar

Even if I wished to return or come nearer