خَلَتْ دَارُهُمْ يَا دَارُ أَيْنَ ذَوُوكِ

خَلَتْ دَارُهُمْ يَا دَارُ أَيْنَ ذَوُوكِ

وَأَيْنَ الأُلَى كَانُوا مَبَاهِيجَ فِيكِ

وَأَيْنَ الأُلَى كَانُوا مَبَاهِيجَ فِيكِ

Their house stood empty. O house, where are your people?

Their home has become empty, O home where are your dwellers?

Their dwelling is empty; O dwelling, where are your people?

And where are those who were sources of joy within you?

And where are the loved ones who were your pride?

And where are those who were a source of delight within you?

فَقَالَتْ سُؤَالٌ هَاجَ وَجْدِي تَحَمَّلُوا

فَقَالَتْ سُؤَالٌ هَاجَ وَجْدِي تَحَمَّلُوا

فَقُلْتُ أَذَبْتِ الْقَلْبَ تُرْبٌ بِفِيكِ

فَقُلْتُ أَذَبْتِ الْقَلْبَ تُرْبٌ بِفِيكِ

Then she said: A question has stirred my longing; they have departed.

A burning question stirred my grieving heart.

She replied, "A question that stirs my sorrow! They have departed."

Then I said: You have melted my heart—dust in your mouth!

I said, “You have disappointed my heart, you are but dust within you.”

So I said, "You have melted my heart! May dust fill your mouth!"

إِذَا لَمْ تَكُونِي مِثْلَمَا كُنْتِ مَطْلِعاً

إِذَا لَمْ تَكُونِي مِثْلَمَا كُنْتِ مَطْلِعاً

لأَِقْمَارِهِمْ سَاوَيْتِ حُشَّ عَفِيكِ

لأَِقْمَارِهِمْ سَاوَيْتِ حُشَّ عَفِيكِ

If you are not, as you once were, a rising-place

If you are not as you were when you were

If you are no longer, as you once were, a rising horizon

For their moons, you would equal ʿAfīk’s privy.

A rising place for their moons, you would equal barren deserts in your emptiness.

For their moons, you are equal to the dry weeds of your ruins.