مَتى حَثَّني الشَوقُ يا ناقَتي

مَتى حَثَّني الشَوقُ يا ناقَتي

حَثَثتُكِ بِالسَّوقِ هَذا بِذاكِ

حَثَثتُكِ بِالسَّوقِ هَذا بِذاكِ

Whenever longing spurs me, O my she-camel,

Whenever longing spurs me on, O my she-camel,

I spur you on by driving—this in return for that.

I urge you on in the marketplaces here and there.

فَإِن يُدمِ خُفَّيكِ طولُ السُرى

فَإِن يُدمِ خُفَّيكِ طولُ السُرى

فَمِثلُ جُفوني الدَّوامي البَواكي

فَمِثلُ جُفوني الدَّوامي البَواكي

And if long night-travel makes your footpads bleed,

And if the journey wears out your sandals,

then they are like my bleeding, weeping eyelids.

My eyelids are just as worn out from weeping.

خِدي وَخُذي العَهدَ مِنّي مَتى

خِدي وَخُذي العَهدَ مِنّي مَتى

بَلَغنا مِنىً أَن تَنالي مُناكِ

بَلَغنا مِنىً أَن تَنالي مُناكِ

Stride swiftly, and take my pledge: when

Rest your cheek, and take my pact, whenever

we reach Mina, you shall attain your wish.

We reach a stopping-place, not to seek your rest

هُناكَ حَرامٌ عَلى الرَّحلِ وَال

هُناكَ حَرامٌ عَلى الرَّحلِ وَال

تَرَحُّلِ دونَ المَطايا مَطاكِ

تَرَحُّلِ دونَ المَطايا مَطاكِ

There, forbidden to the saddle and

Without me. There it is forbidden for luggage

to journeying—unlike the other mounts—shall be your back.

To be unloaded unless the camel kneels.

أَيا هِندُ هِندُ بَني عامِرٍ

أَيا هِندُ هِندُ بَني عامِرٍ

شِفا أَلَمي في اِرتِشافي لَماكِ

شِفا أَلَمي في اِرتِشافي لَماكِ

O Hind, Hind of Banu Amir,

O Hind, O Hind, daughter of 'Amir, assuage

my pain's cure lies in sipping from your dusky lips.

My pain with a draught when the cooking-pot is hot.

إِلَيكِ شَقَقتُ مُلاءَ السَرابِ

إِلَيكِ شَقَقتُ مُلاءَ السَرابِ

بِشاكِيَةِ الأَينِ مِن تَحتِ شاكِ

بِشاكِيَةِ الأَينِ مِن تَحتِ شاكِ

Toward you I tore through the mirage's mantles,

For you I split the mirage, traveling

on a she-camel complaining of fatigue, beneath a complaining rider.

Below the blazing sun, asking where you are.

أَبُخلاً وَقَومُكَ أَهلُ النَدى

أَبُخلاً وَقَومُكَ أَهلُ النَدى

وَغَدراً وَما شان غَدرٌ أَباكِ

وَغَدراً وَما شان غَدرٌ أَباكِ

Stinginess, though your people are generous?

Are you refusing me, though your people are generous,

And treachery, though treachery never disgraced your father?

When treachery is uncharacteristic of you?

بِماذا تَوَسَّلَ عُودُ الأَراكِ

بِماذا تَوَسَّلَ عُودُ الأَراكِ

إِلى أَن يُقَبِّلَ بِالأَمنِ فاكِ

إِلى أَن يُقَبِّلَ بِالأَمنِ فاكِ

How did the arak twig find a way

With what has the perfumed crooked bough of Arak wood

to kiss your mouth in safety?

Managed to kiss the cup's rim safely?