وغادَةٍ كَمهاةِ الرَّملِ آنِسَةٍ

وغادَةٍ كَمهاةِ الرَّملِ آنِسَةٍ

تَذودُ عَنها سَراةُ الحَيِّ مِن سَبإِ

تَذودُ عَنها سَراةُ الحَيِّ مِن سَبإِ

And many a graceful, companionable maiden, like an oryx of the sands,

And a lovely gazelle, companion of the sandy dunes,

Is guarded by the clan's nobles from Saba.

The dwellers of the camp ward her off from Saba'.

إِذا بَدَتْ سارَقَتْها العَينُ نَظرَتَها

إِذا بَدَتْ سارَقَتْها العَينُ نَظرَتَها

تَلَمُّحَ الصَّقرِ رُعباً فَوقَ مُرتَبإِ

تَلَمُّحَ الصَّقرِ رُعباً فَوقَ مُرتَبإِ

When she appears, the eye steals a glance at her,

When her eyes steal a glance, she glimpses

Like a falcon peering fearfully atop a lookout.

The falcon in fright, above the hilltop.

قالَتْ وَقَد أَنكَرَتْ وَجهاً يُلَوِّحُهُ

قالَتْ وَقَد أَنكَرَتْ وَجهاً يُلَوِّحُهُ

طَيُّ المَهامِهِ ما لِلسَّيفِ ذا صَدأِ

طَيُّ المَهامِهِ ما لِلسَّيفِ ذا صَدأِ

She said, disapproving of a face darkened

She said, as she denied a face he was waving,

By crossing the vast wastes: 'Why is the sword rusty?'

"What can a rusted sword do to me?"

فَقُلتُ لا تُنكريهِ إِنَّ لي شِيَماً

فَقُلتُ لا تُنكريهِ إِنَّ لي شِيَماً

تَرضَينَها إِن سأَلتِ الحَيَّ عَن نَبئِي

تَرضَينَها إِن سأَلتِ الحَيَّ عَن نَبئِي

So I said, 'Do not disapprove of it, for I have qualities

I said, "Do not deny him, I have a nature,

You will approve of, if you ask the clan for news of me.

The dwellers of the camp would approve, if asked about my character."

أَرجو وَخَصرُكِ يَهوى لا رأى فَرَجاً

أَرجو وَخَصرُكِ يَهوى لا رأى فَرَجاً

أَن يُرويَ اللَهُ ما يَشكوهُ مِن ظَمإِ

أَن يُرويَ اللَهُ ما يَشكوهُ مِن ظَمإِ

I hope—your waist is in love; may it find no relief—

I hope, your waist sways, not having seen an opening,

That God will quench the thirst it laments.'

That God may quench, what he complains of thirst.