وقالتْ حملْتَ حطام السنينْ

وقالتْ حملْتَ حطام السنينْ

وفي ناظريْكَ الأسى والأنينْ

وفي ناظريْكَ الأسى والأنينْ

And she said, “You have carried the wreckage of the years,

She said, "You carry the debris of years

And in your eyes are sorrow and lamentation.

And in your eyes, sorrow and moaning

تَضُمُّ لصدْرِكَ ما لا يُصانُ

تَضُمُّ لصدْرِكَ ما لا يُصانُ

وتسفحُ في الدربِ حُبِّي المصونْ

وتسفحُ في الدربِ حُبِّي المصونْ

You clasp to your chest what is not safeguarded,

You hold close to your chest what cannot be protected

And spill my guarded love along the road.

And spill my guarded love on the path

وكنتَ المهيْمنُ في المنْتَدى

وكنتَ المهيْمنُ في المنْتَدى

وكنتَ المطاعَ وكنتَ الأمينْ

وكنتَ المطاعَ وكنتَ الأمينْ

You were the one in command at the gathering,

You were dominant in the assembly

And you were obeyed, and you were trusted.”

You were obeyed and you were trustworthy

فقلتُ لسَعْي الفتى غايةٌ

فقلتُ لسَعْي الفتى غايةٌ

تكونُ المرادُ وقد لا تكونْ

تكونُ المرادُ وقد لا تكونْ

So I said, “A young man's striving has a goal:

So I said, the striving of youth has an end

It may be what is desired—or it may not be.”

That may or may not be attained