بِمِثلِها تُقطَعُ المَوماة عَن عُرُضٍ

بِمِثلِها تُقطَعُ المَوماة عَن عُرُضٍ

إِذا تَبَغَّمَ في ظَلمائِهِ البومُ

إِذا تَبَغَّمَ في ظَلمائِهِ البومُ

With one like her, the trackless desert is crossed from side to side,

With it the bond is severed from the loved one

when owls give low cries in its darkness.

When the owl bemoans in its darkness

فَطافَ طَوفَينِ بِالأُدحِيِّ يَقفُرُهُ

فَطافَ طَوفَينِ بِالأُدحِيِّ يَقفُرُهُ

كَأَنَّه حاذِرٌ لِلنَخسِ مَشهومُ

كَأَنَّه حاذِرٌ لِلنَخسِ مَشهومُ

Then he circled the ostrich’s nest twice, searching it,

Circling twice around the barren valley

as though wary of being prodded, frightened.

As if it fears the fanged snake