حسدتI was envied علىfor نظامcomposing الشعرpoetry بغياout of malice
حسدت على نظام الشعر بغيا
كماjust as حسدwas envied المكاءthe lark علىfor الصفيرwhistling
كما حسد المكاء على الصفير
I was envied out of malice for composing poetry,
I envied the rhyme and meter of poetry, just as
As the lark is envied for its whistling.
The owl envies the nightingale's song.
وأغنىand availed الشعرpoetry عنيme فيin معاشيmy livelihood
وأغنى الشعر عني في معاشي
كماjust as يغنيavails البكاءweeping علىover القبورthe graves
كما يغني البكاء على القبور
And poetry has availed me in my livelihood,
Yet poetry has made me self-sufficient in my life
Just as weeping over graves avails.
As weeping makes one self-sufficient at graves.
Sol 6.1