فيمَ الوُقوفُ بِمَنزِلٍ خَلَقٍ

فيمَ الوُقوفُ بِمَنزِلٍ خَلَقٍ

أَو ما سُؤالُ جَنادِلٍ خُرسِ

أَو ما سُؤالُ جَنادِلٍ خُرسِ

Why stand at a timeworn dwelling?

Why stop at a place not meant for halting,

Or what use is questioning mute stones?

Or question silent monks unable to respond?

عُجتُ المَطِيَّ بِهِ أُسائِلُهُ

عُجتُ المَطِيَّ بِهِ أُسائِلُهُ

أَينَ اِستَقَرَّت دارَةُ الشَمسِ

أَينَ اِستَقَرَّت دارَةُ الشَمسِ

I turned the riding camels aside there, questioning it:

I spurred on my mount, questioning him:

Where has the sun's orb come to rest?

Where has the sun come to rest?

فَعَجِبتُ مِنها إِذ تَقولُ لَنا

فَعَجِبتُ مِنها إِذ تَقولُ لَنا

يا صاحِ ما هاذي مِنَ الإِنسِ

يا صاحِ ما هاذي مِنَ الإِنسِ

So I marveled at them when they said to us:

I was amazed when he said to me:

O friend, this one is not of humankind.

"O friend! What is this nonsense from a human?"

مَيمونَةٌ وُلِدَت عَلى يُمنٍ

مَيمونَةٌ وُلِدَت عَلى يُمنٍ

بِالطائِرِ المَيمونِ لا النَحسِ

بِالطائِرِ المَيمونِ لا النَحسِ

Maymunah, born to good fortune,

Meimouna was born under auspices of fortune,

With the auspicious bird, not the ill-omened one.

With the fortunate, not unfortunate, bird.

مَقبولَةٌ لَبقَ القَبولُ بِها

مَقبولَةٌ لَبقَ القَبولُ بِها

لَيسَ القَبولُ بِها بِذي نُكسِ

لَيسَ القَبولُ بِها بِذي نُكسِ

Pleasing, with charm that becomes her well;

She is beloved - favor suits her -

Her charm is not subject to decline.

Her acceptance is not like one downcast.

غَرّاءُ واضِحَةٌ لَها بَشرٌ

غَرّاءُ واضِحَةٌ لَها بَشرٌ

كَالرَقِّ مُستَعِرٌ مِنَ الوَرسِ

كَالرَقِّ مُستَعِرٌ مِنَ الوَرسِ

Radiant and fair, she has skin

Radiant, glowing, a cheerful expression,

Like parchment, aglow with yellow wars dye.

Like a parchment, she gleams from whiteness.

زَمَّت فُؤادي فَهوَ يَتبَعُها

زَمَّت فُؤادي فَهوَ يَتبَعُها

لِلغَورِ إِن غارَت وَلِلجَلسِ

لِلغَورِ إِن غارَت وَلِلجَلسِ

She bridled my heart, so it follows her,

She captivated my heart, so it follows her

To the lowlands if she descends, and to the uplands.

To seclusion, if she hides, or company.