عَرَفتُI recognized عَرفَthe fragrance الصَباthe east wind إِذwhen هَبَّblew عاطِرُهُits fragrant breath
عَرَفتُ عَرفَ الصَبا إِذ هَبَّ عاطِرُهُ
مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon مَنthe one whom أَناI فيin قَلبيmy heart أُشاطِرُهُI share with him
مِن أُفقِ مَن أَنا في قَلبي أُشاطِرُهُ
I recognized the fragrance of the east wind when its scented breath blew,
I knew the fragrance of youth when its perfume blew
From the horizon of one with whom I share my heart.
From the horizon of the one in my heart with whom I share it
أَرادَhe wished تَجديدَrenewing ذِكراهُremembrance of him عَلىdespite شَحَطٍdistance
أَرادَ تَجديدَ ذِكراهُ عَلى شَحَطٍ
وَماand did not تَيَقَّنَknow for certain أَنّيthat I الدَهرَfor all time ذاكِرُهُremembering him
وَما تَيَقَّنَ أَنّي الدَهرَ ذاكِرُهُ
He wished to renew his memory despite the distance,
He wanted to renew the memory of it on a stretch of sand
Yet he did not know for certain that I remember him for all time.
And was not certain that I will remember him forever
نَأىgrew distant المَزارُthe visitation بِهِwith him وَالدارُand the dwelling دانِيَةٌnear
نَأى المَزارُ بِهِ وَالدارُ دانِيَةٌ
ياO حَبَّذاhow welcome الفَألُthe good omen لَوif صَحَّتproved true زَواجِرُهُits auguries
يا حَبَّذا الفَألُ لَو صَحَّت زَواجِرُهُ
A visit to him is far out of reach, though his dwelling is near.
The shrine took him far away and the house became desolate
O, how welcome the good omen, if its auguries prove true!
If only fortune allowed for its deterrents to hold true
خِلّيmy dear friend أَباAbu (father of) الجَيشِal-Jaysh (the army) هَلwill يَقضيdecide اللِقاءُthe reunion لَناfor us
خِلّي أَبا الجَيشِ هَل يَقضي اللِقاءُ لَنا
فَيَشتَفيso may find healing مِنكَfrom you قَلبٌa heart أَنتَyou هاجِرُهُforsaking it
فَيَشتَفي مِنكَ قَلبٌ أَنتَ هاجِرُهُ
My friend Abu al-Jaysh, will reunion rule in our favor,
Tell Abu Al-Jaysh, will our meeting be fulfilled for us
So that a heart you forsake may find healing through you?
So a heart you deserted may be healed by you?
قِصارُهُhis utmost reach قَيصَرٌCaesar إِنif قامَhe rose مُفتَخِراًboasting
قِصارُهُ قَيصَرٌ إِن قامَ مُفتَخِراً
لِلَّهِto God أَوَّلُهُhis beginning مَجداًin glory وَآخِرُهُand his end
لِلَّهِ أَوَّلُهُ مَجداً وَآخِرُهُ
Caesar is his utmost reach, should he rise to boast;
His line of verse short yet a Caesar when proudly standing
To God be praise for his beginning and his end in glory!
To God belongs its first glory and its last
Sol 6.1