نسب الرياض إلى الغمام شريف

نسب الرياض إلى الغمام شريف

ومحلها عند النسيم لطيفُ

ومحلها عند النسيم لطيفُ

The gardens' descent from the clouds is noble,

Noble Riyadh is likened to the clouds

and their place with the breeze is delightful.

And its place is gentle with the breeze

فاشرب وثقل وزن جامك انه

فاشرب وثقل وزن جامك انه

يوم على قلب الزمان خفيف

يوم على قلب الزمان خفيف

So drink, and add weight to your goblet, for it is

So drink and let the weight of your cup grow

a day light upon the heart of time.

For this is a day that's gentle on the heart of time

أو ما ترى طرز البروق توسطت

أو ما ترى طرز البروق توسطت

أفقا كأن المزن فيه شفوف

أفقا كأن المزن فيه شفوف

Or do you not see lightning's embroideries set in the midst of

Or don't you see how lightning has threaded

a horizon where the rain clouds seem sheer veils?

A horizon as though embroidered

واليوم من خجل الشقيق مضرج

واليوم من خجل الشقيق مضرج

خجل ومن مرض النسيم ضعيف

خجل ومن مرض النسيم ضعيف

And the day is crimson-stained by the anemone's blush,

And today the anemone is flushed with shyness

bashful, and weak from the breeze's sickness.

Shy while the breeze itself seems weak

والارض طرس والرياض سطوره

والارض طرس والرياض سطوره

والزهر شكل بينها وحروف

والزهر شكل بينها وحروف

And the earth is a parchment, and the gardens its lines,

The earth is embroidery and the gardens are its lines

and the blossoms are vowel marks among them, and letters.

With flowers forming patterns and letters between

وكأنما الدولاب ضل طريقه

وكأنما الدولاب ضل طريقه

فتراه ليس يزول وهو يطوف

فتراه ليس يزول وهو يطوف

And it is as though the waterwheel has lost its way:

It's as though the wheel has lost its way

so you see it going nowhere, while it turns.

You see it doesn't stop as it turns round