1. أَلا هَل هاجَكَ الأَظعا

    نُ إِذ جاوَزنَ مُطَّلَحا

    Ah, did the departing caravans stir you

    as they passed beyond Muṭṭalaḥ?

  2. نَعَم وَلِوَشكِ بَينِهِمِ

    جَرى لَكَ طائِرٌ سَنَحا

    Yes—and with their parting so near,

    a bird crossed your path from left to right.

  3. سَلَكنَ الخَبتَ مِن رَكَكٍ

    وَضَوءُ الفَجرِ قَد وَضَحا

    They crossed the lowland from Rakak,

    and dawn's light had grown clear.

  4. فَمَن يَفرَحُ بِبينِهِمِ

    فَغَيري إِذ غَدَوا فَرِحا

    Whoever rejoices at their parting—

    then someone other than I rejoiced when they set out that morning.

  5. فَهَزَّت رَأسَها عَجَباً

    وَقالَت مازِحٌ مَزَحا

    Then she shook her head in wonder

    and said, "A jester has jested."

  6. فَيا عَجَباً لِموقِفِنا

    وَغَيَّبَ ثَمَّ مَن كَشَحا

    So, how wondrous our meeting was,

    with whoever bore ill will kept out of sight there!

  7. تَبِعتُهُمُ بِطَرفِ العَي

    نِ حَتّى قِيلَ لي اِفتُضِحا

    I followed them with my gaze

    until I was told I had been exposed.

  8. فَوَدَّعَ بَعضُنا بَعضاً

    وَكُلٌّ بِالهَوى صَرَحا

    Then we bade one another farewell,

    and each openly declared their love.