أَما تَرَيانِ البَرقَ في غَلَسِ الدُّجى

أَما تَرَيانِ البَرقَ في غَلَسِ الدُّجى

تَميلُ بِهِ ريحُ الصَّبا فَيَميلُ

تَميلُ بِهِ ريحُ الصَّبا فَيَميلُ

Do you two not see the lightning in the murk of night?

Don't you see the lightning in the darkness of night

The east wind sways it, and it sways.

Swaying as the morning breeze blows?

خَليلَيَّ هُبّا وَاسعِداني بِنَظرَةٍ

خَليلَيَّ هُبّا وَاسعِداني بِنَظرَةٍ

إِلَيهِ فَطَرفي بِالبُكاءِ كَليلُ

إِلَيهِ فَطَرفي بِالبُكاءِ كَليلُ

My two friends, rise and help me with a glance

My two friends, come and gladden me with a glance

Toward it, for weeping has dulled my sight.

At it, for my eyelids weep copiously.

وَفي تَلَعاتِ السَّفحِ لَو تَلمَحانِها

وَفي تَلَعاتِ السَّفحِ لَو تَلمَحانِها

غَزالٌ أَحَمُّ المُقلَتَينِ كَحيلُ

غَزالٌ أَحَمُّ المُقلَتَينِ كَحيلُ

And in the gullies at the mountain’s foot—if you two could glimpse them—

And on the slopes, if you look closely,

Is a gazelle with jet-black, kohl-rimmed eyes.

A gazelle, slender of eyelashes like antimony.

رَحَلنا قُبَيلَ الصُّبحِ نَنشُدُ أَهلَنا

رَحَلنا قُبَيلَ الصُّبحِ نَنشُدُ أَهلَنا

وَنَحنُ بِأَعلى الرَّقمَتَينِ نُزولُ

وَنَحنُ بِأَعلى الرَّقمَتَينِ نُزولُ

We set out shortly before dawn, seeking our people,

We traveled before dawn, yearning for our people,

While we were encamped in the heights of al-Raqmatayn.

While we were descending the two hilltops.

فَأَلثَمَني وَاللَّيلُ بَيني وَبَينَهُ

فَأَلثَمَني وَاللَّيلُ بَيني وَبَينَهُ

غُروبُ أَقاحٍ ظُلمُهُنَّ شَمولُ

غُروبُ أَقاحٍ ظُلمُهُنَّ شَمولُ

Then, with night between me and him, I was kissed by

He kissed me while night was between me and him—

Daisy-like tooth-tips, whose glistening moisture was wine.

The setting of bright stars, their darkness all-encompassing.

أُعارِضُهُ في غَفلَةٍ الرَّكبِ لاثِماً

أُعارِضُهُ في غَفلَةٍ الرَّكبِ لاثِماً

كَما خلصت غُصنَ الأَراكِ قُبولُ

كَما خلصت غُصنَ الأَراكِ قُبولُ

I draw alongside him, kissing, while the caravan is unaware,

I meet him furtively while the caravan is oblivious,

As an east wind reaches an arak bough.

As I had plucked the branch of the aromatic tree stealthily.

أَبُثُّ سِراري إِنَّ حُبَّ عُذَيبَة

أَبُثُّ سِراري إِنَّ حُبَّ عُذَيبَة

أَقامَ وَوَيبَ النّاسِ كَيفَ يَزولُ

أَقامَ وَوَيبَ النّاسِ كَيفَ يَزولُ

I reveal my secret: indeed, love for ʿUdhayba

I confide my secrets—verily, the love of Udhaybah

Has endured—and woe to people! How can it fade?

Has remained, despite people's slander, immovable.

فَلَيتَ اللَّيالي في الغُوَيرِ قَصِيرَة

فَلَيتَ اللَّيالي في الغُوَيرِ قَصِيرَة

فِداهُنَّ لَيلٌ بِالحيارِ طَويلُ

فِداهُنَّ لَيلٌ بِالحيارِ طَويلُ

Would that the brief nights in al-Ghuwayr

Would that the nights at al-Ghuwayr were short,

Were ransomed by a long night in al-Hiyar.

For one long, confused night ransomed them!