خَليليَّ مُرّا بِالعَقيقِ فَسَلِّما

خَليليَّ مُرّا بِالعَقيقِ فَسَلِّما

عَلى طَلَلٍ لَولا البلى لَتَكَلَّما

عَلى طَلَلٍ لَولا البلى لَتَكَلَّما

My two friends, pass by al-Aqiq and offer greetings

My friends, pass by Al-Aqeeq and convey the greetings

To a ruined dwelling that, but for decay, would have spoken.

To the ruins which, if not for decay, would have spoken

عهدت بِهِ رَوضاً أَريضاً تروده

عهدت بِهِ رَوضاً أَريضاً تروده

عَذارى كغِزلان الصَريمة دُوَّما

عَذارى كغِزلان الصَريمة دُوَّما

I once knew a lush meadow there, frequented by

I knew it as a delightful, green garden, frequented

Maidens like gazelles of the thicket, lingering there.

By does like the shy sandgrouse, forever

فَأَصبَحَ قفراً لا أَنيسَ بِجَوِّهِ

فَأَصبَحَ قفراً لا أَنيسَ بِجَوِّهِ

كَذاكَ صُروف الدَهر بؤساً وَأَنعما

كَذاكَ صُروف الدَهر بؤساً وَأَنعما

So it became a wasteland, with no companion in its expanse.

But now it is a barren wasteland, with no companion in its atmosphere

Such are the vicissitudes of time: misery and blessings.

Such are the turns of fate, bringing woe and bliss

كَدأبك من أَسماء يَوم تَرَحَّلت

كَدأبك من أَسماء يَوم تَرَحَّلت

تريك خِلال السِجف كَفّاً وَمعصِما

تريك خِلال السِجف كَفّاً وَمعصِما

Like your experience with Asma on the day she departed,

As was your habit the day you departed, leaving behind

Showing you through the curtain a hand and a wrist,

Impressions in the dunes, handfuls and forearms

بِوَجه نَقي اللون غير مُسَهَّم

بِوَجه نَقي اللون غير مُسَهَّم

تَلَفَّع بُرداً أَتحمياً مُسَهَّما

تَلَفَّع بُرداً أَتحمياً مُسَهَّما

With a face of pure complexion, not wan,

With an immaculate, unblemished face

Wrapped in a striped Atḥamī mantle.

Wearing a frigid, icy garment, yet heated

فَأَقسم لَو أَبصرت سنة وَجهها

فَأَقسم لَو أَبصرت سنة وَجهها

صَبوت وَلَو كنت المَسيح بن مَريَما

صَبوت وَلَو كنت المَسيح بن مَريَما

I swear, had you beheld her countenance,

I swear if you saw a year of her face

You would have fallen in love, even were you the Messiah, son of Mary.

You would melt, even if you were Jesus, son of Mary