لَيتكَ إذْ نُبتْني بواحدةٍ

لَيتكَ إذْ نُبتْني بواحدةٍ

تُقْنِعُني منكَ آخرَ الأبدِ

تُقْنِعُني منكَ آخرَ الأبدِ

Would that, when you beset me, with a single thing

I wish when you promised me once,

from you, you would content me to the end of eternity:

you would convince me for all time,

تَحْلِفُ ألاّ تَبرَنِّي أبداً

تَحْلِفُ ألاّ تَبرَنِّي أبداً

فإنَّ فيها بَرْداً على كَبِدي

فإنَّ فيها بَرْداً على كَبِدي

swear never to show me kindness,

that you would never abandon me,

for in that is cooling relief for my liver.

for that would chill my heart.

اِشفِ فُؤادِي مِنّي فإنَّ به

اِشفِ فُؤادِي مِنّي فإنَّ به

مِنيَ جُرْحَاً نكأتهُ بِيَدي

مِنيَ جُرْحَاً نكأتهُ بِيَدي

Heal my heart of myself, for within it

Heal my heart of me, for in it

is a wound of my own making, which I reopened with my hand.

is a wound I gashed with my own hand.

إنْ كانَ رِزقي إليكَ فارْم به

إنْ كانَ رِزقي إليكَ فارْم به

في ناظِرَيْ حَيَّةٍ على رَصَدِ

في ناظِرَيْ حَيَّةٍ على رَصَدِ

If my livelihood rests with you, then cast it

If my sustenance is up to you, then aim it

into the eyes of a snake lying in wait.

into the eyes of a snake lying in wait.

قد عِشْتُ دَهراً وما أقدِّرَ أنْ

قد عِشْتُ دَهراً وما أقدِّرَ أنْ

أرضى بما قد رَضيتُ من أحدِ

أرضى بما قد رَضيتُ من أحدِ

I have lived an age, never imagining that I

Long have I lived, but never thought

would accept from anyone what I have accepted.

I would be content with anyone.

فكيف أخطأتُ لا أصبتُ ولا

فكيف أخطأتُ لا أصبتُ ولا

نَهَضْتُ من عَثرةٍ إلى سَدَدِ

نَهَضْتُ من عَثرةٍ إلى سَدَدِ

How, then, did I go wrong? May I never hit the mark, nor

How could I err without gaining or rising

rise from a stumble onto the right course.

from a stumble to the right path?

لو كنتُ حُرَّاً كما زعمتُ وقد

لو كنتُ حُرَّاً كما زعمتُ وقد

كَدَدْتني بالمِطالِ لم أَعُدِ

كَدَدْتني بالمِطالِ لم أَعُدِ

Had I been a free man, as I claimed, after you

If I were free, as I claimed, and you had

had worn me down by stalling, I would not have returned.

fettered me with expectations, I would not comply.

صَبَرْتُ لمَّا أسأتَ بي فإذا

صَبَرْتُ لمَّا أسأتَ بي فإذا

عُدْتُ إلى مثلها فَعُدْ وُعدِ

عُدْتُ إلى مثلها فَعُدْ وُعدِ

I endured when you mistreated me; so if

I was patient when you wronged me, but if

I return to the like, then repeat it—and promise again.

you return to the like, return my promise.

فإنّني أهلُ ذاكَ في طَمَعي

فإنّني أهلُ ذاكَ في طَمَعي

وفي خَطَائي سَبيلَ مُعْتَمدِ

وفي خَطَائي سَبيلَ مُعْتَمدِ

For I deserve that, through my greed

For I am worthy of that in my greed,

and through missing the path to someone dependable.

and in my sins, a frequented road.

أبْعَدني اللهُ حينَ يَحْمِلُني

أبْعَدني اللهُ حينَ يَحْمِلُني

حرصي على مثل ذا من الأودِ

حرصي على مثل ذا من الأودِ

May God banish me when I am driven

May God distance me when my craving

by my greed to crookedness like this.

carries me to the likes of such affection.

الآن أيقنتُ بعد فِعْلِكَ

الآن أيقنتُ بعد فِعْلِكَ

أنْي عَبدُ لأَعْبُدٍ قُفُدِ

أنْي عَبدُ لأَعْبُدٍ قُفُدِ

Now, after what you have done, I am certain

Now I know, after your deed,

that I am a slave to club-footed slaves.

that I am a slave, bound in shackles.

فصِرْتُ من سُوءَ ما رُمِيتُ به

فصِرْتُ من سُوءَ ما رُمِيتُ به

أكنى أبا الكَلْبِ لا أبا الأسدِ

أكنى أبا الكَلْبِ لا أبا الأسدِ

So, from the evil I have been struck with, I am now

I have become, from the foulness I was pelted with,

called Abu al-Kalb (Father of the Dog), not Abu al-Asad (Father of the Lion).

one who is called Father of the Dog, not Father of the Lion.