هاجَ القَريضَ الذِكَرُ
لَمّا غَدوا فَاِبتَكَروا
The recollection stirred the buried past,
When at dawn they set out to discover,
عَلى بِغالٍ وُسَّجٍ
قَد ضَمَّهُنَّ السَفَرُ
On camels and howdahs well prepared
For the rigours of travel that lay ahead.
وَقَولُها لِأُختِها
أَمُطمَئنٌّ عُمَرُ
And she said to her sister, “Does he stay
Content in our land, or plan to flee?
بِأَرضِنا فَماكِثٌ
أَم حانَ مِنهُ سَفَرُ
Tomorrow, or seven days from now,
Will he leave, or will he tarry?”
قالَت غَداً أَو سَبعَةً
يَروحُ أَو يَبتَكِرُ
Both roads they pondered, and laboured on,
To smooth the journey before their dawn.
أَمّوا الطَريقَينِ مَعاً
وَيَسَّروا ما يَسَّروا
Till having circled Al-Muarra mosque,
When their rituals of worship were done,
حَتّى إِذا ما وازَنوا
المُرُوَةَ حينَ اِئتَمَروا
It was said, “Dismount from your night’s course,
Set up camp and kindle your fires.”
قيلَ اِنزِلوا مِن لَيلِكُم
فَعَرِّسوا فَاِستَقمِروا
When settled, their tent was pitched
Where the stones had been set.
لَمّا اِستَقَرّوا ضُرِبَت
حَيثُ أَرادوا الحُجَرُ
A terrible din fell upon them,
Like the moon it darkened the sky.
فيهِم مَهاةٌ كاعِبٌ
كَأَنَّما هِيَ قَمَرُ
Too narrow its flanks for the saddle’s girth
When the garment is drawn round its waist.
يَضيقُ عَن أَردافِها
إِذا يُلاثُ المِئزَرُ
Cheeks that breathe musk from their soft perfumed robes,
Ambergris-scented, gently composed.
خَودٌ يَفوحُ المِسكُ مِن
أَردانِها وَالعَنبَرُ
She parts her lips like a hungry snake,
Parched ribs thinly veiled in her clothes.
تَفتَرُّ عَن مِثلِ أَقا
حي الرَملِ فيها أُشُرُ
None in creation can equal her,
She is beyond all human compare.
تِلكَ الَّتي لَيسَ لَها
في الناسِ شِبهاً بَشَرُ
An army of giants could scarce restrain
The passions of youth her allure would evoke.
نَأَت بِها عَنّا عُيو
جٌ في مَطاها عُمُرُ
By God, I would forfeit my soul or my life,
Just to sate my desire she provoke.
تَاللَهِ أَنسى حُبَّها
حَياتَنا أَو أُقبَرُ
