أَلا ما لِرَسمِ الدار لا يَتَكَلَّمُ

أَلا ما لِرَسمِ الدار لا يَتَكَلَّمُ

وَقَد عاجَ أَصحابي عَلَيهِ فَسَلَّموا

وَقَد عاجَ أَصحابي عَلَيهِ فَسَلَّموا

Ah, why does the trace of the dwelling not speak,

Alas, why does the outline of the abode not speak

though my companions turned aside to it and offered greetings?

When my companions have bidden it farewell?

بِأَخزَمَ أَو بِالمُنحَنى مِن سوَيقَةٍ

بِأَخزَمَ أَو بِالمُنحَنى مِن سوَيقَةٍ

أَلا رُبَّما أَهدى لَكَ الشَوقَ أَخزَمُ

أَلا رُبَّما أَهدى لَكَ الشَوقَ أَخزَمُ

At Akhzam, or at the bend in Suwayqah—

By Akhzam or the curved part of Suwayqah,

Ah, how often Akhzam has brought you longing!

Alas, sometimes yearning makes Akhzam greet you.

وَغَيَّرَها العَصرانِ حَتّى كَأَنَّها

وَغَيَّرَها العَصرانِ حَتّى كَأَنَّها

عَلى قِدَمِ الأَيّامِ بُردٌ مُسَهَّمُ

عَلى قِدَمِ الأَيّامِ بُردٌ مُسَهَّمُ

And day and night have altered it, until it resembles—

Time has changed it until it seems

after the long passage of days—an arrow-patterned cloak.

Like a worn-out mantle from days gone by.