لِمَنِ الدِيارُ رُسومُها قَفرُ

لَعِبَت بِها الأَرواحُ وَالقَطرُ

For whom are the ruins, their contours barren?

The spirits and the rain have toyed with them,

وَخَلا لَها مِن بَعدِ ساكِنِها

حِجَجٌ خَلَونَ ثَمانَ أَو عَشرُ

And after their inhabitants they are empty,

Pilgrims passing through, eight or ten.

لِأَسيلَةِ الخَدَّينِ واضِحَةٍ

يُعشى بِسُنَّةِ وَجهِها البَدرُ

For smooth cheeks their down is clearly visible,

By the full moon of her face they break their fast at night.

دُرمٌ مَرافِقُها وَمِئزَرُها

لا عاجِزٌ تَفِلٌ وَلا صِفرُ

Her scarf and robe are flawless,

Neither feeble, nor sullied, nor pale.

وَالزَعفَرانُ عَلى تَرائِبِها

شَرِقٌ بِهِ اللَبّاتُ وَالنَحرُ

Saffron on her pillows,

By it the curves of her chest and throat grow radiant.

وَزَبَرجَدٌ وَمِنَ الجُمانِ بِهِ

سَلسُ النِظامِ كَأَنَّهُ جَمرُ

Jade and pearls in ordered strands as if afire -

Sea shells and coral and topaz.

وَبَدائِدُ المَرجانِ في قَرنٍ

وَالدُرُّ وَالياقوتُ وَالشَذرُ