1. قف بذات الاراك واندب طلولا

    قفرت عَن نوار دهرا طَويلا

    Stop at Dhat al-Arak and lament the ruins

    That have stood empty of Nawar for a long time.

  2. وَرسوما بالابلق الفرد أَضحَت

    لمها الرمل مسمراوَمقيلا

    And the traces at al-Ablaq al-Fard, which have become

    For the sand-oryx, an evening haunt and a midday resting-place.

  3. واسقها من عَريض دمع غَزير

    دائم السكب لا يغب مسيلا

    And water them with a broad flood of abundant tears,

    Ever pouring, never ceasing to flow.

  4. فَلَعَل الدموع تطفىء نارا

    من فؤاد صبا وَتشفي غَليلا

    Perhaps the tears will quench a fire

    Within a yearning heart, and soothe its burning thirst.

  5. ان بين الاراك فالبان فالريان

    للظاعنين رسما محيلا

    Indeed, between al-Arak, al-Ban, and al-Rayyan,

    There is a desolate trace of those who departed.

  6. انكرت ربعه الرياح جنوبا

    وَشمالا شامية وَقبولا

    The winds made its dwelling-place unrecognizable: the south wind,

    And the Syrian north wind, and the east wind.

  7. وأَحالت منه المَعالم فالآ

    ثار فالربع فالكثيب المهيلا

    And effaced its landmarks, then its

    Traces, its dwelling-place, and its crumbling dune.

  8. يا خَليلي عَساكَ تعذر ذا الوج

    د كما يعذر الخَليل الخَليلا

    O my friend, perhaps you will pardon one possessed of

    Passion, as a friend pardons his friend.

  9. لا تسلني عَن العوير وأَهلي

    ه وَسلهم هَل خلفوني قَتيلا

    Do not ask me about al-Uwayr and its

    People; ask them whether they left me slain.

  10. فالغَريق الَّذين حلوا بنجد

    ما يَزالون في الفؤاد حلولا

    For the drowned ones who settled in Najd

    Still remain dwelling in the heart.

  11. ما عَلى الناس من بقية روح

    أسكنته الهموم جسما نَحيلا

    What claim have people upon a remnant of soul

    That cares have lodged in an emaciated body,

  12. وَفؤاد يَرضى بهاهجر المحبين

    وَيَستَعذب العذاب الوَبيلا

    And a heart content with it—the lovers' abandonment,

    And finding sweetness in grievous torment?

  13. إِن دَعج العيون من غير عيب

    آلفته الضنا قَليلا قَليلا

    Indeed, the dark-eyed, free of any blemish,

    Have accustomed it to wasting sickness, little by little.

  14. أَيُّها الراكب المجدار تحل من

    شجر واقطع الفَيافي زَميلا

    O rider [unclear wording], depart from

    The trees, and cross the trackless wastes at a brisk gait.

  15. واطو أَرض الجنوب غورا وَنَجدا

    فرسخا فرسخا وَميلا فميلا

    And traverse the land of the south, lowland and highland,

    Parasang by parasang, and mile after mile.

  16. لا تمل بالمطىّ عَن ذروة

    العز بعز المنيع تنعم مقيلا

    Do not turn your mounts away from the summit of

    Glory with impregnable might; enjoy midday repose

  17. في رياض شرفن بالاشرف الغر

    د الَّذي حاز الارض عرضا وَطولا

    In gardens ennobled by the melodious al-Ashraf,

    Who possessed the earth in breadth and length.

  18. تبعى أَتى به اللَه للا

    سلام وَالمسلمين ظلا ظَليلا

    A Tubba'i whom God brought for

    Islam and the Muslims as a sheltering shade.

  19. واسأل الحي عن محب صحبنا

    قَديما وَكان برّا وَصولا

    And ask the tribe about a friend who kept our company

    Long ago, and was kind and faithful in friendship.

  20. حيّ عبد الرَحمن أَعنى وَجيه الدين

    الدين سيف الهدى الجراز الصَقيلا

    Greet Abd al-Rahman—I mean Wajih al-Din,

    Al-Din, the polished, keen-cutting sword of guidance.

  21. اكرم الخق من بَني اكرم الحلق

    فروعا منيفة وأصولا

    The noblest of creatures, descended from the noblest of creatures,

    With lofty branches and roots.

  22. الامام الَّذي يدل عَلى الحق

    بآثاره وَيهدى السَبيلا

    The imam who points to the truth

    Through his works and guides along the way.

  23. وَالجواد الجواد والامجد الامجد

    وَالسيد النَبيل النَبيلا

    And the generous, the generous; the most glorious, the most glorious,

    And the lord, noble, truly noble.

  24. الفَتى الماهِر المهذب فردا

    في بَني الدهر ان طلبت مَثيلا

    The skillful, refined young man, unique

    Among the sons of time, if you seek an equal.

  25. فاِقتبس من هداه علما وَحِلما

    واِستله تلقى فزانا وَتيلا

    So draw from his guidance knowledge and forbearance,

    And draw it forth; you will find [unclear wording].

  26. وَتيممه سائِلا تغن جودا

    دونك الزاخر العَريض الطَويلا

    And seek him as a petitioner; grow rich through his generosity:

    Before you lies the surging sea, broad and long.

  27. أَيُّها القادِمون مِن أَرض نجد

    هَل وَجدتم لهم قَلبي مزيلا

    O you arriving from the land of Najd,

    Have you found my heart with them [unclear final word]?

  28. ان قَوما أَحبهم هَجَروني

    بعد وصل فصار قَلبي عَليلا

    Indeed, people whom I love have abandoned me

    After union, and so my heart has fallen ill.

  29. يا حَبيبي لَو ساعدتَني اللَيالي

    بالتَلاقي لجئتسعيا عجولا

    O my beloved, had the nights favored me

    With a meeting, I would have come running in haste.

  30. غَرَضي أَن أُجَدد العهد لكن

    لَم أَجد من عثار دَهري مقيلا

    My aim is to renew the pledge, but

    I have found no rescue from my fortune's stumbles.

  31. ان تكن حلت عَن وِدادي فَقَلبي

    لا يَرى عَن ودادكم أن يحولا

    If you have turned from my affection, then my heart

    Does not consider turning from its love for you.

  32. أَو تناسيتني فلست بناس

    أو مللت الهوى فلست مَلولا

    Or if you pretend to forget me, I am not forgetful;

    Or if you have tired of love, I am not one who tires.

  33. طالَما هبت الجنوب فأهدي

    ت اليكم معها السلام الجَزيلا

    Often, when the south wind blew, I sent

    With it to you abundant greetings of peace.

  34. شفني الشوق نحوكم واِستَحالَت

    أنعم مارضيت أَن تَستَحيلا

    Longing for you has wasted me, and changed are

    Blessings whose changing I never accepted.

  35. كَيف يا سَيدي بلغت قَريبا

    من بلادي وَما اِستَطعت وصولا

    How, my lord, did you come so close

    To my homeland, yet fail to reach it?

  36. لا تعنف عليّ بالهجر فاللَه

    تَعالى يَقول صبرا جَميلا

    Do not treat me harshly with estrangement, for God

    Most High says: 'Beautiful patience.'

  37. لي حولان أَرتَجي بث أشوا

    قي اليكم فَما وجدت رَسولا

    For two years I have hoped to pour out my

    Longings to you, but have found no messenger.

  38. واختصرت العتاب وَهو كَثير

    خشية أن شرحته أَن يطولا

    And I have shortened the reproach, though it is much,

    Fearing that explaining it would make it long.

  39. وَتلطفت في السؤال رَجائي

    أَن ترى للجواب فيه دَليلا

    And I have made my request gently, in the hope

    That you will see in it a reason to answer.

  40. فبحق الَّذي هَداك رأعطا

    ك هدى شافيا وَقَولا ثَقيلا

    So, by the right of Him who guided you and gave

    You healing guidance and a weighty word,

  41. اذكر الشارفىّ بالخير مهما

    قمت تدعو البر الرَحيم الوَكيلا

    Remember al-Sharifi kindly whenever

    You rise to invoke the Benevolent, the Merciful, the Trustee.

  42. وَعَلَيكم مني السَلام إِلى أَن

    ينفد الدهر بكرة وأَصيلا

    And upon you be peace from me until

    Time runs out, morning and late afternoon.