سائِلا الرَبعَ بِالبُلَيِّ وَقولا

سائِلا الرَبعَ بِالبُلَيِّ وَقولا

هِجتَ شَوقاً لَنا الغَداةَ طَويلا

هِجتَ شَوقاً لَنا الغَداةَ طَويلا

You two, question the dwelling at al-Bulayy, and say:

Asking the places of rest about our loved ones at daybreak,

You stirred in us a lasting longing this morning.

You awoke longing for us this morning.

أَينَ حَيٌّ حَلّوكَ إِذ أَنتَ مَحفو

أَينَ حَيٌّ حَلّوكَ إِذ أَنتَ مَحفو

فٌ بِهِم آهِلاً أَراكَ جَميلا

فٌ بِهِم آهِلاً أَراكَ جَميلا

Where are the people who dwelt in you, when you were surrounded

Where are those sweet people who adorned you when with them,

by them? I see you beautiful when inhabited.

I saw you beautiful, populated.

قالَ ساروا بِأَجمَعٍ فَاِستَقَلّوا

قالَ ساروا بِأَجمَعٍ فَاِستَقَلّوا

وَبِرُغمي لَوِ اِستَطَعتَ سَبيلا

وَبِرُغمي لَوِ اِستَطَعتَ سَبيلا

It said: They set out all together and departed,

"They left all together and went their ways,

and against my will—if only you could find a way!

And without me, if only I could a path take."

سَإِمونا وَما سَإِمنا بِبَينٍ

سَإِمونا وَما سَإِمنا بِبَينٍ

وَأَرادوا دِماثَةً وَسُهولا

وَأَرادوا دِماثَةً وَسُهولا

They wearied of us, but we did not weary with parting,

"We grew tired, though not of separation,

and they sought soft ground and plains.

And they wanted change and new plains."

ذاكَ مَغنىً مِن آلِ هِندٍ وَهِندٌ

ذاكَ مَغنىً مِن آلِ هِندٍ وَهِندٌ

قَمَرَتهُ فُؤادَهُ المَتبولا

قَمَرَتهُ فُؤادَهُ المَتبولا

That is a dwelling of Hind's clan, and Hind

That, a singer of Indian descent, and India

has won his love-stricken heart from him,

Has moonlike beauty that ravishes his heart.

إِذ تَبَدَّت لَنا فَأَبدَت أَثيثاً

إِذ تَبَدَّت لَنا فَأَبدَت أَثيثاً

حَلِكاً لَونُهُ وَجيداً أَسيلا

حَلِكاً لَونُهُ وَجيداً أَسيلا

when she appeared to us and revealed luxuriant hair,

When she appeared to us, revealing household goods,

jet-black in hue, and a smooth, slender neck,

Smooth of skin and slender of arm.

وَشَتيتاً كَالأُقحُوانِ عِذاباً

وَشَتيتاً كَالأُقحُوانِ عِذاباً

لَم يُغادِر بِهِ الزَمانُ فُلولا

لَم يُغادِر بِهِ الزَمانُ فُلولا

and sweet, well-spaced teeth like daisies,

And dispersed like ostriches in distress

in which time has left no chips.

Whose remnants time does not relinquish.