1. جاءَ سَعيدٌ لي بِشاةٍ

    ذاتِ سُقمٍ وَدَنَف

    Saʿīd brought me a sheep,

    afflicted with sickness and wasting,

  2. ناحِلَةِ الجِسمِ إِذا

    ما هِيَ مَرَّت بِالجِيَف

    emaciated in body; whenever

    she passed by the carcasses,

  3. صاحَت عَلَيها ها هُنا

    يا أَختَنا ذاتِ العَجَف

    they called to her, “Over here,

    O sister of ours, so gaunt!”

  4. تَخنُقُها العَبرَةُ إِن

    مَرَّت بِأَصحابِ العَلَف

    A sob chokes her if

    she passes those with fodder.

  5. كَم قَد تَغَنّى وَلَها

    شَوقٌ إِلَيهِ وَلَهَف

    How often he has sung, while she

    longs for him with aching desire;

  6. وَقَد تَقَطَّعَت إِلى

    وَجهِكَ شَوقاً وَأَسَف

    and she has pined away for

    your face, in longing and grief.