1. لِخولةَ رسمٌ بالوشيمِ دريسُ

    مَغانيهِ قفرٌ ما بهنّ ونيسُ

    Khawla has a worn-away trace of habitation at al-Washim.

    Its dwelling places are desolate, with no companion in them.

  2. عَفت منهُ آياتٌ جدادٌ وما مضت

    لَهُ جمعةٌ مِن بعدها وخميسُ

    Its once-fresh traces have faded, though there has not passed

    a Friday followed by a Thursday.

  3. بهِ بكرَت يومَ النوى منه بزّل

    تَبوعُ الفلا في سيرِها وتقيسُ

    Mature camels departed from it at dawn on the day of separation,

    spanning the wilderness with their strides and measuring it.

  4. وَقَفنا وَقَد ذابَت غديّة ودّعت

    قلوبٌ لَنا مِن وجدنا ونفوسُ

    We stood, and on the morning she bade farewell, melted

    our hearts and souls from longing.

  5. تَولّت ولي عينٌ تجلجل عبرة

    وَبينَ ضُلوعي لوعةٌ ورسيسُ

    She turned away; my eye quivered with a tear,

    and within my ribs were burning anguish and lingering passion.

  6. وَنارُ الجوى وَالوجد بين أضالعي

    لَها القلبُ منّي كالوطيس وطيسُ

    The fire of heartache and longing burns between my ribs;

    my heart is its furnace, like a blazing kiln.

  7. فَيا حُسنَها مِن غادةٍ حينَ أَقبلت

    تهزّع في بردِ الصبا وتميسُ

    How beautiful she was, a tender maiden, when she approached,

    swaying in youth's mantle and walking with grace.

  8. عَجبتُ لَها في خلقِها كون أنّها

    غَزالٌ لَهُ أسدُ العرين فريسُ

    I marvelled at her form, at the fact that she is

    a gazelle whose prey are lions of the lair.

  9. وَشمسٌ إِذا أَبدت سفوراً تخجّلت

    بدورُ تمامٍ عندها وشموسُ

    And a sun: when she unveils herself, abashed are

    full moons and suns in her presence.

  10. وَلَم أرَ شمساً قبل رؤيتها لها

    طلوعٌ نجافا للخبا وجنوسُ

    Before seeing her, I had never seen a sun that had

    a rising at the tent's lintels and a setting [reading uncertain].

  11. وَفي ثَغرِها كالخمرِ خمرٌ معتَّقٌ

    ودرٌّ حَكى الدرَّ النفيس نفيسُ

    In her mouth is aged wine, like wine itself,

    and precious pearls resembling precious pearls.

  12. تَراها ذلولاً في تذلّلها وإن

    محبّتها للوصلِ فهي شموسُ

    You see her docile in her submission; and though

    she loves union, she is restive.

  13. تصعّدت أنفاساً وإِنّى لها لما

    أُحاول فيما بيننا ونفوسُ

    She heaved sighs; and I, for her, for what

    I seek between us—and souls [wording unclear].

  14. تصدّت فَأَورت في حشاشةِ مُهجتي

    سَعيراً لها تحتَ الضلوع حسيسُ

    She appeared and kindled in my heart's last living spark

    a blaze for her, crackling beneath my ribs.

  15. وَكَيف يرجّا وَصلُها وهي غادةٌ

    حَصانٌ لها عينُ الرقيب حروسُ

    How can union with her be hoped for, when she is a maiden

    chaste, with the watcher's eye guarding her?

  16. أَيا مُشتكي عسرَ الزمانِ وبؤسهُ

    وَفي العسرِ ضرٌّ للرجالِ وبوسُ

    O you who complain of time's hardship and misery,

    hardship holds harm and wretchedness for men.

  17. تيمّم خميساً إِنّما جوده على

    خميسِ الليالي جحفلٌ وخميسُ

    Seek Khamis: his generosity, against

    the host of nights, is a mighty host and an army.

  18. وَسله العطا فالحكمُ مِن فيضِ كفّه

    لحكمِ خطوب النائبات عكوسُ

    Ask him for gifts: the decree flowing from his palm

    reverses the verdict of disastrous calamities.

  19. فتىً وفدهُ للوفدِ يُبدي محاسناً

    عَلى مَن تلقّاه وحسن مكوسُ

    A youth whose delegation displays virtues to visiting delegations,

    to whoever meets him; and beauty—tolls [wording unclear].

  20. فَتىً فاقَ جمل الناس نطقاً ومجلساً

    وَقَد فاقَهم بالفضلِ وليس عبوسُ

    A youth who surpassed all people in speech and in council,

    surpassed them in excellence, and is no scowler.

  21. فتىً وجههُ للوفدِ يبدي بشاشةً

    وَبشراً وفي وجهِ الزمانِ عبوسُ

    A youth whose face offers visitors a cheerful welcome

    and gladness, though the face of time wears a frown.

  22. بَنى شَرفاً في آلِ دهمش شمسه

    لِنورِ شموسِ المُعتدين طموسُ

    He built glory among the family of Dahmash; its sun

    extinguishes the light of aggressors' suns.

  23. إِذا ما تجلّى في الدسوتِ تطأطأت

    رِقابٌ له مُنقادةٌ ورؤوسُ

    Whenever he appears in the seats of honor, bow

    necks and heads, submissive to him.

  24. وَإِن مشقت أقلامهُ اِنبعثَت لها

    لِنفعٍ وضرٍّ للعبادِ طروسُ

    When his pens write swiftly, there issue from them

    written sheets bringing people benefit and harm.

  25. هِزبرٌ لهُ مِن فضلةِ الدرعِ لبدةٌ

    وَمن رأي عياب العواسلِ عيسُ

    A lion whose mane is made from his armor's excess,

    and [the wording about judgment, wolves' sacks, and pale camels is unclear].

  26. لَهُ طلعةٌ مسعودةٌ طلعت بها

    سعودٌ وَمالَت للمغيب نحوسُ

    He has an auspicious countenance, with which have risen

    lucky stars, while unlucky stars sink toward setting.

  27. بِه زانتِ الدنيا وأَضحت كأنّها

    مِنَ الحسنِ مقلاق الوشاح عروسُ

    Through him the world is adorned, and has become as though

    in beauty, it were a bride with a loose-hanging sash.

  28. عَلقتُ بهِ حتّى تعاظمتُ في الورى

    وَصرتُ كأنّي في الأنام رئيسُ

    I attached myself to him until I grew great among men,

    and became as though I were a leader among mankind.

  29. وَجالستهُ فاِزددتُ جاهاً ورفعةً

    كأنّي لِقعقاع بن سور جليسُ

    I sat with him and gained prestige and elevation,

    as though I were a companion of Qa'qa' ibn Sur.

  30. وَدونَكما يستقبسُ العقلُ نورَها

    بِإِشراقها وجه الزمان قبيسُ

    Here it is for you both: the mind draws fire from its light;

    its radiance makes the face of time a firebrand.

  31. بِفضلكَ فينا وهيَ منّى إليّة

    منَ البرّ لَيست كالغموسِ غموسُ

    By your generosity toward us—this is an oath from me,

    a righteous oath, not a perjurious, sin-plunging oath:

  32. لأنتَ الأميرُ الأمجدُ الأصيدُ الّذي

    لَه تخضعُ الدُنيا له وتشوشُ

    indeed, you are the most glorious, majestic prince to whom

    the world submits, and for whom it rejoices.

  33. فَإن يدّعي ما نلتهُ مدَّعٍ فقد

    تمنّت يهودٌ فوزها ومجوسُ

    If a claimant claims what you have attained, then

    Jews and Magians, too, have wished for their triumph.

  34. وَلا زلتَ محروسَ الجنابِ متوّجاً

    تَسودُ البرايا جملةً وتشوسُ

    May you ever remain protected in your domain and crowned,

    ruling all creation and gazing with proud authority.