ما هَاجَ هذا الشَّوقَ غيرُ مَنَازِلٍ

ما هَاجَ هذا الشَّوقَ غيرُ مَنَازِلٍ

دَوَارِسَ بينَ يَذْبُلَ فَذِقَانِ

دَوَارِسَ بينَ يَذْبُلَ فَذِقَانِ

Nothing stirred this longing but dwellings,

Nothing stirred this yearning but the abodes

Worn away between Yadhbul and Dhiqan.

Of fair maidens amid blossoms that fade and wither

أَمِنْ ذِكْرِ نَبْهَانِيَّةٍ حَلَّ أَهْلُها

أَمِنْ ذِكْرِ نَبْهَانِيَّةٍ حَلَّ أَهْلُها

جَنُوبَ المَلا عَيْنَاكَ تَبْتَدِرَانِ

جَنُوبَ المَلا عَيْنَاكَ تَبْتَدِرَانِ

Is it from remembering a Nabhani woman, whose people settled

Was it the memory of Nabhaniyyah that made her people halt?

South of al-Mala, that your eyes rush to weep?

Your eyes yearn southwards, O my friend

كَأَنَّهما مَزَادَتَا مُتَعَجِّلٍ

كَأَنَّهما مَزَادَتَا مُتَعَجِّلٍ

فَرِيَّانِ لِمَّا تُدْهَنَا بِدِهَانِ

فَرِيَّانِ لِمَّا تُدْهَنَا بِدِهَانِ

As though they were the two waterskins of someone in haste,

As if they were the hasty bidding of one exposed for sale

Newly made, not yet coated with oil.

When anointed with kohl and reddened with sorrel

وَغَرْبٍ على مَقْطُورَةٍ بَكَرَتْ بِهِ

وَغَرْبٍ على مَقْطُورَةٍ بَكَرَتْ بِهِ

غَدَتْ في سَوَادِ اللَّيلِ قبلَ السَّوَانِي

غَدَتْ في سَوَادِ اللَّيلِ قبلَ السَّوَانِي

And a large well-bucket on a tethered she-camel that set out early with it,

And a westerly wind on a howdah newly wedded

Going forth in the blackness of night before the water-drawing camels.

Moved in the black night before daybreak

يُصَرِّفُها شَثْنٌ يُرَى بِلَبَانِهِ

يُصَرِّفُها شَثْنٌ يُرَى بِلَبَانِهِ

وَلِحْيَتِهِ نَضْحٌ مِنَ النَّفَيَانِ

وَلِحْيَتِهِ نَضْحٌ مِنَ النَّفَيَانِ

A rough-handed man drives her to and fro; visible on his chest

Steered by a driver seen through his thick beard

And his beard are droplets of flying water.

Trickling with scent of civet

تَمَتَّعْ مِن الدّنيا فإِنَّك فَانِ

تَمَتَّعْ مِن الدّنيا فإِنَّك فَانِ

مِن النَّشَوَاتِ والنِّسَاءِ الحِسَانِ

مِن النَّشَوَاتِ والنِّسَاءِ الحِسَانِ

Take your pleasure from this world—for you are mortal—

Take your pleasure in this life, for you will pass away

From drunken raptures and beautiful women,

From delights and beautiful women

مِن البِيْضِ كالآرَامِ والأُدْمِ كالدُّمَى

مِن البِيْضِ كالآرَامِ والأُدْمِ كالدُّمَى

حَوَاصِنُها والمُبْرِقَاتِ الرَّوَانِي

حَوَاصِنُها والمُبْرِقَاتِ الرَّوَانِي

From fair-skinned women like white antelopes, and dusky ones like figurines,

From white ones like Arameans and red ones like rubies

The chaste among them, and those displaying their beauty with lingering gazes.

Their bosoms and polished anklets