ألا مَن لِصَادٍ وَالمواردُ جَمّةٌ

ألا مَن لِصَادٍ وَالمواردُ جَمّةٌ

له عَلَلٌ من بَردِها لم يُرَوِّهِ

له عَلَلٌ من بَردِها لم يُرَوِّهِ

Ah, who will aid a thirsty man, though the watering places are plentiful?

Alas for him whose quiver's full, the water-holes are choked with sand,

He has taken repeated draughts of their cool waters, yet they have not quenched him.

Whose thirst the showers will not quench that from the clouds expended land,

يُغَانُ عَليهِ حِين يسمعُ نَبْأةً

يُغَانُ عَليهِ حِين يسمعُ نَبْأةً

بِذكْرِهمُ أو دعوةً من مُنَوِّهِ

بِذكْرِهمُ أو دعوةً من مُنَوِّهِ

He is overcome when he hears a faint sound

Who, when he hears the locusts chirp announcing those they love to greet,

Mentioning them, or a call from someone calling aloud.

Is stirred to yearning memories of talks in friendship's circle sweet,

إذَا ما دَعاهُ الشوقُ خَرَّ كأنّما

إذَا ما دَعاهُ الشوقُ خَرَّ كأنّما

به الموتُ لولاَ أنّهُ المتَأوّهِ

به الموتُ لولاَ أنّهُ المتَأوّهِ

When longing calls him, he falls as though

Whose nostalgia moves him forth whene'er the longing thought returns

Death were upon him, but for his groaning.

As though 'twas mortal sickness — but that this is he who moans and yearns.