وَهل يرسِمَنَّ النِّضو بي غُلَّزٍ

وَهل يرسِمَنَّ النِّضو بي غُلَّزٍ

وَنُغضَةَ وَهناً وَالعيونُ رُقُودُ

وَنُغضَةَ وَهناً وَالعيونُ رُقُودُ

And will the gaunt camel indeed trot with me through Ghullaz,

Can its perfume ever be denied me,

And Nughdah, late at night, while eyes sleep,

Though weakness and ill-health are my lot?

عَلَى مَتنِ عادِيٍّ كأَنَّ الصُّوى بِه

عَلَى مَتنِ عادِيٍّ كأَنَّ الصُّوى بِه

رِجَالٌ يؤدّون الصَّلاةَ قُعُودُ

رِجَالٌ يؤدّون الصَّلاةَ قُعُودُ

Along an ancient track, as though its cairns were

Swooning upon my camel's litter

Men performing prayer while seated?

As if devoted monks in worship sit.

فَلو أَنَّ نَفسي طاوَعَتنِي لأَصبَحت

فَلو أَنَّ نَفسي طاوَعَتنِي لأَصبَحت

لَها حَفَدٌ مِمَّا يُعَدّ كَثيرُ

لَها حَفَدٌ مِمَّا يُعَدّ كَثيرُ

So had my soul obeyed me, it would now have

Had but my soul obeyed me, ere the morning,

Many attendants, a great number to count.

For her I would have paid a generous price.