مَتَى تَردُ الْهِيمُ الْخَوَامِسُ مَنْهَلاً

مَتَى تَردُ الْهِيمُ الْخَوَامِسُ مَنْهَلاً

تَبُلُّ بِهِ الأَكْبَادَ وَهْيَ عِطَاشُ

تَبُلُّ بِهِ الأَكْبَادَ وَهْيَ عِطَاشُ

When will the parched camels, due for their fifth-day watering, reach a watering place

When will this barren desert bloom,

To moisten their livers there, thirsty as they are?

And quench my thirsting liver’s thirst?

أَرَى الْغَيْثَ عَمَّ الأَرْضَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ

أَرَى الْغَيْثَ عَمَّ الأَرْضَ مِنْ كُلِّ جَانِبٍ

وَمَوْضِعُ رَحْلِي لَمْ يُصِبْهُ رَشَاشُ

وَمَوْضِعُ رَحْلِي لَمْ يُصِبْهُ رَشَاشُ

I see the rain has covered the earth on every side,

The clouds rain down on every side,

Yet not a sprinkle has touched the place where my saddle rests.

But miss my small encampment’s site.

فَهَلْ نَهْلَةٌ مِنْ جَدْوَلِ النِّيلِ تَرْتَوِي

فَهَلْ نَهْلَةٌ مِنْ جَدْوَلِ النِّيلِ تَرْتَوِي

بِهَا كَبِدٌ ظَمْآنَةٌ ومُشاشُ

بِهَا كَبِدٌ ظَمْآنَةٌ ومُشاشُ

Is there, then, a draught from the Nile's stream to quench

Will Nile’s sweet brook my thirst allay,

A thirsty liver and the ends of the bones?

This parched liver’s thirst allay?

وَهَلْ مِنْ مَقِيلٍ تَحْتَ أَفْنَانِ سِدْرَةٍ

وَهَلْ مِنْ مَقِيلٍ تَحْتَ أَفْنَانِ سِدْرَةٍ

لَهَا مِنْ زَرَابِيِّ النَّبَاتِ فِراشُ

لَهَا مِنْ زَرَابِيِّ النَّبَاتِ فِراشُ

And is there any noonday resting place beneath a lote tree's boughs,

Is rest beneath the acacia’s shade,

With carpets of greenery for its bed,

Where soft green grass makes gentle bed?

لَدَى أَيْكَةٍ رَيَّا الْغُصُونِ كَأَنَّما

لَدَى أَيْكَةٍ رَيَّا الْغُصُونِ كَأَنَّما

عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الزَّهْرِ الْجَنِيِّ رِياشُ

عَلَيْهَا مِنَ الزَّهْرِ الْجَنِيِّ رِياشُ

Beside a grove with well-watered branches, as though

Where boughs, as if a silken mantle spread

It wore plumage of fresh blossoms?

O’er her, the meadow flowers array?

تَرَى الزَّهَرَ أَلْوَاناً يَطِيرُ مَعَ الصَّبَا

تَرَى الزَّهَرَ أَلْوَاناً يَطِيرُ مَعَ الصَّبَا

كَمَا هَاجَ إِبَّانَ الرَّبِيعِ فَرَاشُ

كَمَا هَاجَ إِبَّانَ الرَّبِيعِ فَرَاشُ

You see blossoms of many colors flying with the east wind,

The petals in the breeze take flight,

As butterflies flutter in the season of spring.

As fledglings leave in spring’s delight,

دِيَارٌ يَعِيشُ الْمَرءُ فِيهَا مُنَعَّمَاً

دِيَارٌ يَعِيشُ الْمَرءُ فِيهَا مُنَعَّمَاً

وَأَطْيَبُ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ حَيْثُ يُعَاشُ

وَأَطْيَبُ أَرْضِ اللَّهِ حَيْثُ يُعَاشُ

Lands where one lives in comfort,

A land to live in pleasure and peace,

And the best of God's lands is where one can live.

The sweetest spot for man’s release!

فَيَا رَبِّ رِشْنِي كَيْ أَعِيشَ مُسَدَّداً

فَيَا رَبِّ رِشْنِي كَيْ أَعِيشَ مُسَدَّداً

فَقَدْ يَسْتَقِيمُ السَّهْمُ حِينَ يُرَاشُ

فَقَدْ يَسْتَقِيمُ السَّهْمُ حِينَ يُرَاشُ

So, O my Lord, feather me, that I may live rightly guided,

O Lord, so guide my steps aright,

For an arrow flies straight when it is feathered.

The straight arrow flies the best in flight.