يَلوحُ لِعَيني وَحشُ وَجرَة مِن بُعدِ

يَلوحُ لِعَيني وَحشُ وَجرَة مِن بُعدِ

فَيُقلِلُ مِن صَبري وَيُكثِرُ مِن وَجدي

فَيُقلِلُ مِن صَبري وَيُكثِرُ مِن وَجدي

The wild creatures of Wajra appear to my eye from afar,

A gazelle waves to me from afar, a tree beyond reach

so they lessen my patience and deepen my longing.

Diminishing my patience, amplifying my passion

وَما لي مِن شَوقٍ إِلَيهِ وَلَوعَةٍ

وَما لي مِن شَوقٍ إِلَيهِ وَلَوعَةٍ

لَعَمري لَولا جيرَةُ العَلَمِ الفَردِ

لَعَمري لَولا جيرَةُ العَلَمِ الفَردِ

And I would have no yearning for them or burning anguish,

I have no longing for it, no yearning

by my life, were it not for the neighbors of the solitary peak.

If not for being neighbor to the singular banner

وَإِنَّ نَهاراً فيهِ يَحمِلُني السُرى

وَإِنَّ نَهاراً فيهِ يَحمِلُني السُرى

إِلَيكَ نَهارٌ خُصَّ بِالطالِعِ السَعدِ

إِلَيكَ نَهارٌ خُصَّ بِالطالِعِ السَعدِ

And a day on which night travel carries me

A day takes me on my night journey toward you

to you is a day favored with an auspicious rising star.

A day blessed with auspicious ascendance

حَرامٌ عَلى الأَظعانِ شَدَّ رِحالِها

حَرامٌ عَلى الأَظعانِ شَدَّ رِحالِها

إِلى غَيرِ نَجدٍ وَالأَحِبَّةِ مِن نَجدِ

إِلى غَيرِ نَجدٍ وَالأَحِبَّةِ مِن نَجدِ

It is forbidden for the caravans to fasten their saddles

Forbidden for camel litters to depart

for anywhere but Najd, when the loved ones are from Najd.

From Najd to other than it and its beloved people

أَيا قَمَرَ السَعدي الَّذي دونَ وَصلِهِ

أَيا قَمَرَ السَعدي الَّذي دونَ وَصلِهِ

مَضارِبُ بيضٍ مِن أَكُفِّ بَني سَعدِ

مَضارِبُ بيضٍ مِن أَكُفِّ بَني سَعدِ

O moon of al-Sa'di, barring union with you stand

O moon of Sa'di that without reaching you

the edges of gleaming swords in the hands of Banu Sa'd.

The white abodes of Bani Sa'd are desolate

خُلِقتَ كَحيلَ المُقلَتَينِ لِشَقوَتي

خُلِقتَ كَحيلَ المُقلَتَينِ لِشَقوَتي

بَعيدَ مَجالِ القِرطِ مُعتَدِلَ القَدِّ

بَعيدَ مَجالِ القِرطِ مُعتَدِلَ القَدِّ

You were created with kohl-dark eyes, to my misery,

You were created like kohl to my misfortune

with a long sweep for your earring and a well-proportioned figure.

Far from my reach, upright in stature

أَأَظمى وَفي ذاكَ الرِضابِ مَوارِدٌ

أَأَظمى وَفي ذاكَ الرِضابِ مَوارِدٌ

أَلَذُّ مِنَ السَلسالِ وَالخَمرِ وَالشَهدِ

أَلَذُّ مِنَ السَلسالِ وَالخَمرِ وَالشَهدِ

Shall I thirst, when in that saliva lie springs

Shall I despair when in that place are springs

sweeter than clear flowing water, wine, and honey?

Sweeter than chain, wine and honey

سأَلتُكَ أَن تَمنُن عَلَيَّ بِزَورَةٍ

سأَلتُكَ أَن تَمنُن عَلَيَّ بِزَورَةٍ

تُخَفِّفُ عَن قَلبي مُكابَدَةَ الوَجدِ

تُخَفِّفُ عَن قَلبي مُكابَدَةَ الوَجدِ

I asked you to favor me with a visit

I asked you to bestow on me a visit

that eases my heart's suffering from longing.

To alleviate my heart's enduring fervor