كم دون أرضك من وادٍ ومن علمٍ

كم دون أرضك من وادٍ ومن علمٍ

كأن أعلاه بالأفلاك منتسج

كأن أعلاه بالأفلاك منتسج

How many a valley and mountain lie between me and your land,

How many a valley and standard there is below your land,

As though its summit were interwoven with the celestial spheres;

As though its heights were woven with the stars!

ومن مروجٍ كظهر الترس مظلمةٍ

ومن مروجٍ كظهر الترس مظلمةٍ

كأن حصباءها تحت الدجى سبج

كأن حصباءها تحت الدجى سبج

And how many dark meadows, like the back of a shield,

And meadows like the surface of a round shield darkened,

As though their pebbles beneath night's darkness were jet.

As though its pebbles beneath the dew were crisped.

حتى إذا الشمس لاحت في سباسبها

حتى إذا الشمس لاحت في سباسبها

حسبت أعلامها في الآل تختلج

حسبت أعلامها في الآل تختلج

Until, when the sun appeared over their open plains,

Until when the sun shines on its morning shadows,

I thought their mountains quivered in the mirage.

I deemed its standards amid the family were astir.

وكم فلاةٍ يفوت الطرف آخرها

وكم فلاةٍ يفوت الطرف آخرها

للجن بالليل في أقطارها وهج

للجن بالليل في أقطارها وهج

And how many a desert whose far end eludes the eye,

And many a barren plain whose farther end

Where the jinn cast a glow by night within its reaches;

For the Jinn at night within its regions there is ample space.

يهماء غبراء لا يدري الدليل بها

يهماء غبراء لا يدري الدليل بها

في أي أرجائها له الفرج

في أي أرجائها له الفرج

Trackless and dust-grey, where the guide cannot tell

A dusty brown plain nor knows the guide about it -

In which of its reaches he might find escape.

In which of its slopes for him is the release.

قطعتها بابن حرفٍ ضامر قطمٍ

قطعتها بابن حرفٍ ضامر قطمٍ

صلب المناسم في أرقاله هوج

صلب المناسم في أرقاله هوج

I crossed it on a hardy she-camel's son, lean and lusty,

I crossed it for a son of noble lineage compressed of bounty,

Hard of footpad, headlong in his swift stride,

Firm of characteristics in his self-possession bowed.

شوقاً إليك ولولا ما أكابده

شوقاً إليك ولولا ما أكابده

لكن لي في بلاد اللَه منفرج

لكن لي في بلاد اللَه منفرج

Out of longing for you—and were it not for what I endure,

Yearning for you, and were it not for what I endure

I would have a refuge in the lands of God.

For me in God's land there would have been a relief.

فإن تجد لي فمحقوق بذاك وإن

فإن تجد لي فمحقوق بذاك وإن

تبخل علي فلا لوم ولا حرج

تبخل علي فلا لوم ولا حرج

So if you are generous to me, that befits you; and if

If you find me worthy of that, while if

You withhold from me, there is neither blame nor fault.

You refuse me, no blame and no disgrace.