يوم أغر محجل الأنباء

يوم أغر محجل الأنباء

لعلاك تهنئتي به وهنائي

لعلاك تهنئتي به وهنائي

A blaze-faced day, its tidings white-footed;

A white-blazed day, its tidings white-stockinged;

for your exalted station, my congratulations upon it—and my joy.

To your exalted self, my congratulations on it and my joy.

ظمأ البلاد غليك في هذى النوى

ظمأ البلاد غليك في هذى النوى

ظمأ النبات إلى الغمام النائى

ظمأ النبات إلى الغمام النائى

The land thirsts [reading غليك as the probable إليك, “for you”] amid this separation—

The land’s thirst for you during this separation

as plants thirst for distant rainclouds.

is the plants’ thirst for the distant clouds.

شوّقتها حتى إذا أظمأتها

شوّقتها حتى إذا أظمأتها

قام السراب بها مقام الماء

قام السراب بها مقام الماء

You filled her with longing until, when you had made her thirst,

You made her yearn until, when you had made her thirst,

the mirage took the place of water for her.

the mirage took the place of water within her.

عيدان فيها حين ناجت ربها

عيدان فيها حين ناجت ربها

قالت له ثَلِّثهما بلقاء

قالت له ثَلِّثهما بلقاء

Two feast-days were hers; when she communed with her Lord,

Two festivals were hers when she communed with her Lord;

she said to Him, “Make them three through a reunion.”

she said to Him, “Make them three with a reunion.”