أَمِن آلِ زَينَبَ جَدَّ البُكورُ

نَعَم فَلِأَيِّ هَواها تَصيرُ

Has morning come to Zainab's family?

Yes, but for whose love does it dawn?

أَلِلغَورِ أَم أَنجَدَت دارُها

وَكانَت قَديماً بِعَهدي تَغورُ

For departure, or has their abode been prepared,

Though it used to be in ruins in my time?

هِيَ الشَمسُ تَسري عَلى بَغلَةٍ

وَما خِلتُ شَمساً بِلَيلٍ تَسيرُ

She is the sun riding on a mule

And I have never known a sun to ride by night.

وَما أَنسَ لا أَنسَ مِن قَولِها

غَداةَ مِنىً إِذ أُجِدَّ المَسيرُ

Nor will I forget her words

At Miná, when setting out was hurried.

أَلَم تَرَ أَنَّكَ مُستَشرَفٌ

وَأَنَّ عَدُوَّكَ حَولي كَثيرُ

Do you not see that you are in danger

And that many foes surround you?

فَإِن جِئتَ فَأتِ عَلى بَغلَةٍ

فَلَيسَ يُؤاتي الخَفاءَ البَعيرُ

If you come, then come on a mule,

For a camel cannot be brought secretly.

فَإِنَّكَ عِندِيَ فيما اِشتَهَي

تَ حَتّى تُفارِقَ رَحلي أَميرُ

With me you shall have whatever you desire

Until the day our Chief departs.

نَظَرتُ بِخَيفِ مِنىً نَظرَةٍ

إِلَيها فَكادَ فُؤادي يَطيرُ

I glanced in fear at Miná

And my heart almost flew towards her.