1. دمع كسح الغيوم

    وزفرة كالجحيم

    Tears like the clouds’ downpour,

    And a sigh like hellfire.

  2. عذب بما ترتضيه

    قلبي فإنك فيه

    Torment, with whatever pleases you,

    My heart, for you are within it.

  3. إنى بما ترتضى

    راض فكن لي معين

    Indeed, with whatever you choose,

    I am content; so be my helper.

  4. إليك يا ممرضى

    أشكو يضعف اليقين

    To you, O you who sicken me,

    I complain: certainty grows weak.

  5. فإن تكن منهضى

    أفز بعز مكين

    So if you are the one to raise me,

    I shall gain firmly established honor.

  6. نار البعاد أليم

    كم بت ليل السليم

    The fire of separation is painful.

    How often I have spent a night like one snakebitten,

  7. في كل بحر أتيه

    مضنى بما ألتقيه

    Wandering lost in every sea,

    Worn out by what I encounter.

  8. أيام عز مضت

    عنى ولم ترجع

    Days of glory have passed

    Away from me, and have not returned.

  9. نار الأسى أودعت

    وودعت أضلعى

    They left the fire of sorrow behind,

    And bade my ribs farewell.

  10. يد النوى فرقت

    شملى بذي الأجزع

    The hand of separation scattered

    My company at Dhu al-Ajzaʿ.

  11. بائوا وحزنى مقيم

    أبكى تلك الرسوم

    They went back, while my sorrow remains.

    I weep over those dwelling-traces.

  12. ما بالحمى أجتنيه

    فيه وما أقتنيه

    What can I gather in the protected grounds?

    There—and what can I possess?

  13. يا شاديا بالغصون

    ذكرت عهداً مضى

    O singer among the branches,

    You recalled a time gone by.

  14. شدوك هاج الشجون

    والحب قد أعرضا

    Your song stirred sorrows,

    And the beloved has turned away.

  15. إن كنت تبكى الخدين

    فإنه قوضا

    If you weep for the close companion,

    For he has struck camp.

  16. دع عنك ندب الحميم

    فليس خل يدوم

    Set aside lamenting the intimate friend,

    For no friend endures.

  17. قد بان من تصطفيه

    وعز ما ترتجيه

    The one you cherish has departed,

    And what you hope for is hard to attain.

  18. يا نفس كم ذا التصاب

    فيا له من مصاب

    O soul, how long this playing at youth?

    So, what a calamity!

  19. ولى زمان الشباب

    آن أوان الإياب

    The time of youth has passed;

    The time for returning has come.

  20. لو ذي بتيك القباب

    حتى إليها الركاب

    Seek refuge at those domes,

    Urge the mounts toward them [probable reading].

  21. فبالصفا والحطيم

    وبالمقام الكريم

    For at al-Safa and al-Hatim,

    And at the noble Station,

  22. وفي محل الوجيه

    تحظى بما تشتهيه

    And in the abode of the honored one,

    You will attain what you desire.

  23. متى أرى في الرحال

    ما بين تلك الرمال

    When shall I see myself among the saddles,

    Between those sands,

  24. إلى مقام الكمال

    أحدوا وأشدوا الجمال

    Bound for the station of perfection,

    Chanting and singing to the camels?

  25. وللدموع انهمال

    كما شدوا ذو خبال

    And the tears stream down,

    Like the singing of one delirious [reading uncertain].

  26. في بحر دمعي نعوم

    وفه نقع وتهيم

    In the sea of my tears we swim,

    And into it we fall, while you wander distraught.

  27. وذا المليح إن يتيح

    لس نفتح اليد بيه

    And if this handsome one grants leave,

    [Unclear opening] we open the hand with him.