سَقياًMay rain fall لدهرupon an age مضىgone by ماhow كانwas أطْيَبَهُsweet it was
سَقياً لدهر مضى ما كان أطْيَبَهُ
إذwhen أنتyou متّبعٌsought after فالشرطand the stipulated fee دينارa dinar
إذ أنت متّبعٌ فالشرط دينار
May rain bless an age gone by—how sweet it was!
The past days were so pleasant when you were near,
When you were sought after, and the stipulated fee was a dinar;
For your presence was worth more than gold coins.
أيامin the days when وجهكyour face مبيضwhite عَوَارضُهُits sides
أيام وجهك مبيض عَوَارضُهُ
وللربيعand for spring علىupon خديكyour two cheeks أنوارblossoms
وللربيع على خديك أنوار
In the days when the sides of your face were white,
The days when your face shone bright,
And spring had blossoms upon your cheeks.
And spring’s glow rested on your cheeks.
حانتarrived مَنّيتُهits death فاسودَّand turned black عارضُهُits cheek
حانت مَنّيتُه فاسودَّ عارضُهُ
كماjust as تسوّدturns black بعدafter المّيتthe dead man الدارthe house
كما تسوّد بعد المّيت الدار
Its hour of death arrived, and its cheek turned black,
But when you left, your face grew dark,
As the house turns black after the dead man's passing.
As a home blackens when its dweller dies.
Sol 6.1