فَهَلْ يُبْلِغَنِّي أَهْلَ دَهْمَاءَ حُرَّةٌ

فَهَلْ يُبْلِغَنِّي أَهْلَ دَهْمَاءَ حُرَّةٌ

وأَعْيَسُ نَضَّاحُ القَفَا مَرَجَانِ

وأَعْيَسُ نَضَّاحُ القَفَا مَرَجَانِ

So will a purebred she-camel carry me to Dahma's people,

Will my beloved in Dahma hear of my love from a free woman,

and a pale male camel, sweat streaming from his nape, swift of gait?

While I am shackled in chains, longing for reunion?

لَقَدْ طَالَ عَنْ دَهْمَاءَ لَدِّي وعِذْرَتي

لَقَدْ طَالَ عَنْ دَهْمَاءَ لَدِّي وعِذْرَتي

وكِتْمَانُهَا أَكني بِأُمِّ فُلاَنِ

وكِتْمَانُهَا أَكني بِأُمِّ فُلاَنِ

Indeed, long have I disputed about Dahma and made my excuses,

For long has my passion for one in Dahma burnt within,

and concealed her identity, calling her 'Mother of So-and-so.'

And its secrecy I confide to the mother of so-and-so.

جَعَلْتُ لِجُهَّالِ الرِّجَالَ مَخَاضَةً

جَعَلْتُ لِجُهَّالِ الرِّجَالَ مَخَاضَةً

ولوْ شِئْتُ قَدْ بَيَّنْتُهَا بِلِسَانِي

ولوْ شِئْتُ قَدْ بَيَّنْتُهَا بِلِسَانِي

I made a ford for the ignorant among men,

I pretend infatuation with dimwitted men,

though, had I wished, I would surely have made her known with my tongue.

When if I wished, my tongue could reveal her plainly.