خَليلَيَّ ما بالُ المَطايا كَأَنَّما

نَراها عَلى الأَدبارِ بِالقَومِ تَنكِصُ

My friend, why do the riding camels seem as though

We see them with the people turning back in retreat

وَقَد قُطِعَت أَعناقُهُنَّ صَبابَةً

فَأَنفُسَنا مِمّا يُلاقينَ شُخصُ

While their necks have been severed with swords

And we fear what they will encounter

وَقَد أَتعَبَ الحادي سُراهُنَّ وَاِنتَحى

لَهُنَّ فَما يَألو عَجولٌ مُقَلِّصُ

The guide has exhausted them with his traveling, yet urges them on

But the frightened young camels only quicken their pace

يَزِدنَ بِنا قُرباً فَيَزدادُ شَوقُنا

إِذا زادَ طولُ العَهدِ وَالبُعدُ يَنقُصُ

They bring us closer, so our longing increases

When the length of separation grows, and distance diminishes