1. لَمّا أَناخوا قُبَيلَ الصُبحِ عيسَهُم

    وَثَوَّروها فَثارَت بِالهَوى الإِبِلُ

    When they made their pale camels kneel just before dawn,

    And roused them, the camels rose, carrying my love.

  2. وَأَبرَزَت مِن خِلالِ السَجفِ ناظِرَها

    تَرنو إِلَيَّ وَدَمعُ العَينِ يَنهَمِلُ

    And she revealed her eye through the curtain,

    Gazing at me as tears streamed from her eye.

  3. وَوَدَّعَت بِبَنانٍ خِلتُهُ عَنَماً

    فَقُلتُ لا حَمَلَت رِجلاكَ يا جَمَلُ

    And she waved farewell with fingertips I took for ʿanam.

    So I said, “May your legs never carry you, O camel!”

  4. وَيلي مِنَ البَينِ ماذا حَلَّ بي وَبِها

    مِن نازِحِ الوَجدِ حَلَّ البَينُ فَاِرتَحَلوا

    Woe is me for parting! What has befallen me and her—

    Such far-reaching anguish! Parting came, and they departed.

  5. يا حادِيَ العيسِ عَرِّج كَي أُوَدِّعَها

    يا حادِيَ العيسِ في تِرحالِكَ الأَجَلُ

    O driver of the pale camels, turn aside so I may bid her farewell.

    O driver of the pale camels, in your departure lies death.

  6. إِنّي عَلى العَهدِ لَم أَنقُض مَوَدَّتَهُم

    يا لَيتَ شِعري بِطولِ العَهدِ ما فَعَلوا

    I remain true to the pledge; I have not renounced my love for them.

    Oh, would that I knew, after so long, how they have fared!