ذِكَرُ الرَبابِ وَكانَ قَد هَجَرا

ذِكرى قُرَيبَةَ أَحدَثَت وَطَرا

The mention of the rabab though abandoned

Brought up memories of one held dear

وَلَها بِأَعلى الخَيفِ مَنزِلَةٌ

هاجَت لَهُ شَوقاً فَما صَبَرا

In the most exalted spot it had its place

For him in yearning unrestrained it stirred

وَالبُردُ بَينَ الجُلَّتَينِ بِهِ

تَجتَنُّ مِمَّن طافَ أَو نَظَرا

Between garments two, the cold with him

From all who roamed around, it hid with care

قالَت لِتِربَيها بِعَمرِكُما

هَل تَطمَعانِ بِأَن نَرى عُمَرا

To both her friends, she said, for your lives

Can you hope that we will Umar see?

إِنّي كَأَنَّ النَفسَ موجِسَةٌ

وَلِذاكَ أَطمَعُ أَنَّهُ حَضَرا

My soul seems to sense that he draws near

And so for him I pine, hoping he's here

فَأَجابَتاها في مُهازَلَةٍ

وَأَسَرَّتا مِن قَولِها سَخَرا

In jest they answered her, and at her words

Mockingly laughed, amusement bare

إِنّا لَعَمرُكِ ما نَخافُ وَما

نَرجو زِيارَةَ زائِرٍ ظُهُرا

By your life, we fear not, nor hope

A visitor's arrival, not now, not e'er

لَو كانَ يَأتينا مُجاهَرَةً

فيمَن تَرَينَ إِذاً لَقَد شُهِرا

If he came openly, who would you see?

Then spread wide his name, no shame or fear

قالَت لَها الصُغرى وَقَد حَلَفَت

بِاللَهِ لا يَأتيكُما شَهرا

The younger said, swearing by God's name

A month he will not come, have no care

فَتَنَفَّسَت صَعَداً لِحِلفَتِها

وَهَوَت فَشَقَّت جَيبَها فَطرا

Upwards she sighed at her oath so strong

And plunged, her garment torn side to flare

وَجَرَت مَآقيها بِأَدمُعِها

جَزَعاً وَقالَت حُبَّ مَن ذُكِرا

With tears flowing, her misfortune she told

For love of the mentioned, grief laid bare

يا رَبِّ إِنّي قَد شُغِفتُ بِهِ

أَعقِب فُؤادي مِنهُمُ صَبرا

O Lord, for him I pine, follow my heart

With patience from them, I cannot bear

بَينا تُحاوِرُهُنَّ قُمتُ إِلى

أَقفائِهِنَّ لِأَسمَعَ الحَورا

While speaking to them, I came up behind

To hear their talk, a welcome snare

فَأَرابَ إِحداهُنَّ فَاِلتَفَتَت

وَطئي فَلَمّا أَثبَتَت نَظَرا

I startled one, she turned, when her gaze met mine

To the others she said, an open brother's here

قالَت لَهُنَّ أَخو مُجاهَرَةٍ

قَد جاءَنا يَمشي وَما اِستَتَرا

Amongst them a cheek I'll ne'er forget

Until my grave meets its gravemate near

فيهِنَّ خَودٌ لَستُ ناسِيَها

حَتّى تُجاوِرَ حُفرَتي حُفرا