ألاAh! ليتif only شعريmy knowledge حينwhen أخلفتَyou broke موعديmy appointment
ألا ليت شعري حين أخلفتَ موعدي
وأنتand you امرؤa man قدindeed حَلَّمتكhave taught you forbearance المَعاشرُsocial circles
وأنت امرؤ قد حَلَّمتك المَعاشرُ
Ah, if only I knew, when you broke your appointment with me—
Though you are a man whom companionship has taught forbearance—
أقدَّرتdid you suppose أنيthat I راغبeager فيكfor you لائمreproachful
أقدَّرت أني راغب فيك لائم
أباO father of حسنHasan أمor زاهدindifferent فيكto you عاذِرُexcusing
أبا حسن أم زاهد فيك عاذِرُ
Did you think me eager for your friendship and reproachful,
Abu Hasan, or indifferent to you and forgiving?
كلاboth ذاthis وهذاand this يَتَّقيguards against الخلُّthe friend مثلَهُits like
كلا ذا وهذا يَتَّقي الخلُّ مثلَهُ
علىconcerning العهدthe pledge منfrom خلانهhis friends ويحاذرand is wary
على العهد من خلانه ويحاذر
A friend guards against the like of both these things
From his companions concerning their pledge, and is wary.
وياand oh ليتif only شعريmy knowledge حينwhen غبتَyou were absent أفائزٌa winner?
ويا ليت شعري حين غبتَ أفائزٌ
ببغيتهin attaining his desire أمor خائبluckless القِدحthe gaming arrow خاسرa loser
ببغيته أم خائب القِدح خاسر
And oh, if only I knew, when you stayed away: had you attained
Your desire, or drawn a losing arrow—a loser?
Sol 6.1