مَرابِعُ لو كُنَّ المرابعُ أنجماً

مَرابِعُ لو كُنَّ المرابعُ أنجماً

لكُنَّ نُجوماً للنجوم المواثلِ

لكُنَّ نُجوماً للنجوم المواثلِ

Dwelling places—if dwelling places were stars,

If dwellings were stars

they would be stars to the stars in view.

They would be stars for parallel stars

أشاعِثُ كالخِيلانِ في خدِّ كاعبٍ

أشاعِثُ كالخِيلانِ في خدِّ كاعبٍ

ونُؤيٌ طواهُ النَأيُ طيَّ الخلاخل

ونُؤيٌ طواهُ النَأيُ طيَّ الخلاخل

Ragged remnants, like beauty spots on a budding maiden's cheek,

Thickets like two horses on a playful cheek

and a trench that distance has coiled like anklets.

And a gazelle its remoteness has covered with wrapping veils

وقَفتُ بها والصبرُ ليس بواقفٍ

وقَفتُ بها والصبرُ ليس بواقفٍ

عليَّ وروحي راحلٌ في الرَواحلِ

عليَّ وروحي راحلٌ في الرَواحلِ

I stood there, but patience would not stand

I stood there while patience was no longer standing

by me, and my soul departed among the riding camels.

For me, and my soul was traveling in the wilds

وما زُرتُها إِلّا استزارَت مدامعي

وما زُرتُها إِلّا استزارَت مدامعي

فجاءَت بسُحبٍ كالسحاب الهواطل

فجاءَت بسُحبٍ كالسحاب الهواطل

And never did I visit them without their summoning my tearful eyes,

And I never visited her except my tears flowed

so they came with clouds like pouring rainclouds.

Bringing clouds like pouring rain

وما استنَزلَ الأجفانَ من عَبَراتِها

وما استنَزلَ الأجفانَ من عَبَراتِها

ولا سِيّما أن اقفرت كالمنازل

ولا سِيّما أن اقفرت كالمنازل

And nothing has coaxed the eyelids to shed their tears

Nor did the eyelids release their flowing tears

like dwelling places, especially when they lie deserted.

Especially when her abode became deserted like homes