أَشارَت إِلَينا بِالبَنانِ تَحِيَّةً

فَرَدَّ عَلَيها مِثلَ ذاكَ بَنانُ

She greeted us with her fingers,

And fingers like hers greeted back,

فَقالَت وَأَهلُ الخَيفِ قَد حانَ مِنهُمُ

خُفوفٌ وَما يُبدي المَقالَ لِسانُ

Then she said, while the people of the tent were present -

Some lighthearted, some reserved in speech -

نَوىً غَربَةٌ قَد كُنتُ أَيقَنتُ أَنَّها

وَجَدِّكَ فيها عَن نَواكَ شَطانُ

"My intention in this visit was to be sure

That, despite your vow, you feel no bitterness.

تَعالَ فَزُرنا زَورَةً قَبلَ بَينَنا

فَقَد غابَ عَنّا مَن نَخافُ جَبانُ

Come visit before we're parted,

The cowards who'd prevent it are gone.

فَقُلتُ لَها خَيرُ اللِقاءِ بِبَلدَةٍ

مِنَ الأَرضِ لا يُخشى بِها الحَدَثانُ

I said the best meeting's in a place

Where no harm's feared from the young and strong."

نُكَذِّبُ مَن قَد ظَنَّ أَنّا سَنَلتَقي

وَنَأمَنُ مَن في صَدرِهِ شَنَآنُ

We'll deny having met to any who suppose we might

And trust any who wish us ill, in their chests.

سَنَمكُثُ عَنهُم لَيلَةً ثُمَّ مَوعِدٌ

لَكُم بَعدَ أُخرى لَيلَتَينِ عِدانِ

We'll stay away one night, then, be sure,

Another two nights - agreed?

وَيُبدي الهَوى رَكبٌ هُداةٌ وَأَينَقٌ

بِهِنَّ عَلَينا في رِضاكِ هَوانُ

Passion makes the horses lead the way; how elegant

The women are who accept what we desire!

سَلامِيَّةٌ كَالجِنِّ أَو أَرحَبِيَّةٌ

عَلائِفُ أَمثالُ السَمامِ هِجانُ

Healthy and lithe like jinn, or broad hipped,

Rounded bellies, full breasts - pure delight!

مُعيداتُ حَبسٍ عِندَ كُلِّ لُبانَةٍ

مُقَيَّدَةٌ قُبُّ البُطونِ سِمانُ

At the curve of every dune they're held back,

When passion calls they scarcely rein it in.

لَهُنَّ فَلا يُنكِرنَهُ كُلَّما دَعا

هَوىً مِن أَماراتِ الشَقاءِ عِنانُ

As we descended from the dusty hill and earth's

Haze hid us from all eyes,

فَلَمّا هَبَطنا مِن غِفارٍ وَغَيَّبَت

ذُرى الأَرضِ عَنّا طَخيَةٌ وَدُخانُ

She lit a fire whose light led, with night,

A hand that gently beckoned us and winked.

أَثارَت لَنا ناراً أَتى دونَ ضَوئها

مَعَ اللَيلِ بيدٌ أَعرَضَت وَمِتانُ

I said, "Hasten, before they sleep, and we'll see

More clearly what we hope for."

فَقُلتُ اِلحَقوا بِالحَيِّ قَبلَ مَنامِهِم

سَيَبدو لَنا مِمّا نُريدُ بَيانُ

And I said to companions whose every word

To the women seems charming and kind,

وَقُلتُ لِأَترابٍ لَها كُلُّ قَولِها

لَدَيهِنَّ فيما قَد يَرَينَ حَنانُ

"Come, it's time we met our date - go now

And wait for her; the moment's due."

هَلُمَّ إِلى ميعادِهِ فَاِنتَظَرنَهُ

فَقَد حانَ مِنهُ أَن يَجيءَ أَوانُ

She came, walking gently, and around her

Gazelles paced gracefully.

فَجاءَت تَهادى كَالمَهاةِ وَحَولَها

مَناصِفُ أَمثالُ الظِباءِ حِسانُ

When we met, each confessed his secret,

Though aware that such talk stays hid.

فَلَمّا اِلتَقَينا باحَ كُلٌّ بِسِرِّهِ

مَعَ العِلمِ أَن لَيسَ الحَديثُ يُخانُ

I spent a night not matched by any place

For one who'd savor it, keeping clear of spies.

فَبِتُّ مُبيتاً لَيسَ مِثلَ مَكانِنا

لِمَن لَذَّ إِن خافَ العُيونَ مَكانُ

In a depression, by a hillock and meadow

We were sheltered - who'd suspect we were there?

إِلى مُستَرادٍ مِن كَثيبٍ وَرَوضَةٍ

سُتِرنا بِها إِنَّ المُعانَ مُعانُ

The night passed quickly by and dawn

Came, waking us, the however awake and alert.

فَلَمّا تَقَضّى اللَيلُ إِلّا أَقَلَّهُ

هَبَبنا وَنادى بِالرَحيلِ سِنانُ

We left, our talk revealed by neither foe

Nor loose tongues giving us away.

رَجِعنا وَلَم يَنشُر عَلَينا حَديثَنا

عَدُوٌّ وَلَم تَنطِق بِهِ شَفَتانُ

And she said, her tears flowing as the drops

Run quickly down a slender branch:

وَقالَت وَدَمعُ العَينِ يَجري كَما جَرى

سَريعاً مِنَ السِلكِ الضَعيفِ جُمانُ

"Can I hope that one day after this

There'll come a time we meet again?"

أَأَلحَقُّ أَنَّ اليَومَ أَنَّ لِقاءَكُم

تَنَظُّرُ حَولٍ بَعدَ ذاكَ زَمانُ