ولماand when لمdid not أجدI find ظهراًa back مطيقاcapable of bearing
ولما لم أجد ظهراً مطيقا
أحملهI make it bear اشتياقيmy longing والغراماand passion
أحمله اشتياقي والغراما
And when I found no back strong enough
When I could find no back strong enough
to bear my longing and passion,
To bear my yearning and passion
سألتI asked البارقthe lightning النجديof Najd يهديto convey
سألت البارق النجدي يهدي
الىto دارٍa dwelling تحلshe dwells بهاin it السلاماgreetings
الى دارٍ تحل بها السلاما
I asked the lightning of Najd to convey
I asked the Najdi lightning to guide
greetings to a dwelling where she resides.
Me to a house where peace resides
ولستand I am not وإنand even if تطاولتgrew long اللياليthe nights
ولست وإن تطاولت الليالي
بناسٍforgetful قولthe words of هندٍHind ياO أماماUmama
بناسٍ قول هندٍ يا أماما
Nor, though the nights stretch on,
Though nights may stretch endlessly
do I forget Hind’s words: “O Umama,
I'm not one for false claims or veils
أهذاis this المدعيthe one claiming زوراًfalsely وإفكاًand deceitfully
أهذا المدعي زوراً وإفكاً
هواناlove for us ثمthen ضيقتshe tightened اللثاماthe face veil
هوانا ثم ضيقت اللثاما
is this the one who falsely and deceitfully claims
Does this pretender dissemble and lie
to love us?” Then she drew her veil tight.
Then scorn us and draw the veil?
فلوfor if صدقwere true الهوىlove لمwould not يحييlive يوماًa day
فلو صدق الهوى لم يحيي يوماً
بإثرin the wake of البينseparation عنهfrom him ولاnor أقاماhave remained
بإثر البين عنه ولا أقاما
“For had his love been true, he would not have lived a day
If passion spoke true, it would not live
after our parting from him, nor lingered.”
A day apart without end or aim