إنif كفّgoes blind شيخan old man فقدthen indeed توفّيhe has died
إن كفّ شيخ فقد توفّي
وفاتand has escaped منfrom موتهhis death حياتهhis life
وفات من موته حياته
If an old man goes blind, he has died,
If an old man's palm is folded over
yet his life has eluded his death.
His life has died though he lives yet
أيّwhat حياةlife لمستغيثfor one seeking relief
أيّ حياة لمستغيث
شفاءthe cure أسقامهhis ailments وفاتهhis death
شفاء أسقامه وفاته
What life is there for one crying for relief,
What life can a supplicant hope for
whose death is the cure for his ailments?
When his cure is found in death's onset
صفاتهhis qualities كنّwere مسعداتhelpful
صفاته كنّ مسعدات
فصارthen became أعداءهhis enemies صفاتهhis qualities
فصار أعداءه صفاته
His qualities once served him well;
His virtues made him most blessed
then his qualities became his enemies.
Now his foes wear his robes like a vest
والموتand death قينa smith لهhe has أداةa tool
والموت قين له أداة
حضورthe arrival آجالناour appointed death-times أداتهhis tool
حضور آجالنا أداته
And death is a smith with a tool:
And death an obedient servant to him
the arrival of our appointed ends is his tool.
The coming of our ends its device
وللمناياand for deaths مقدّماتharbingers
وللمنايا مقدّمات
يكونis فيin جمعهاtheir gathering شتاتهhis dispersal
يكون في جمعها شتاته
And deaths have their harbingers;
With many preparations made
in their gathering lies his dispersal.
Scattered when the time is weighed
Sol 6.1