1. غَدا بَل راحَ وَاطَّرَحَ الخُلاجا

    وَلَمّا يَقضِ مِن أَسماءَ حاجا

    He set out in the morning—no, in the evening—and cast aside his misgivings,

    And had not yet fulfilled his desires with Asma.

  2. وَكَيفَ لِقاؤُها بِعُفارياتٍ

    وَقَد قَطَعَت ظَعائِنُها النِباجا

    And how could he meet her at Ufariyat,

    When her women in litters had already crossed al-Nibaj?

  3. يَسوقُ بِها الحُداةُ مُشَرِّقاتٍ

    رَواحاً بِالتَنوفَةِ وادِّلاجا

    The chanting camel-drivers urge them eastward,

    Traveling through the wilderness in the evening and before dawn,

  4. عَلى أَحداجِ مُكَرَمَةٍ عَوافٍ

    تَرَبَّعَتِ اللَقيطَةَ أَو سُواجا

    On litters borne by prized, well-fed camels

    That had grazed in spring at al-Laqita or Suwaj.