كُنّا كَغُصنَينِ في جُرثومَةٍ بَسَقا

كُنّا كَغُصنَينِ في جُرثومَةٍ بَسَقا

حيناً عَلى خَيرِ ما يُنمى لَهُ الشَجَرُ

حيناً عَلى خَيرِ ما يُنمى لَهُ الشَجَرُ

We were like two branches from a single rootstock, growing tall,

We were like two branches that grew tall from a single root,

for a time, in the finest way a tree can thrive,

For a time, with the finest growth that trees can attain,

حَتّى إِذا قيلَ قَد طالَت عُروقُهُما

حَتّى إِذا قيلَ قَد طالَت عُروقُهُما

وَطابَ غَرسُهُما وَاِستَوسَقَ الثَمَرُ

وَطابَ غَرسُهُما وَاِستَوسَقَ الثَمَرُ

until it was said, “The roots of both have grown deep,

Until, when it was said, “Their roots have grown long,

their planting has flourished, and the fruit has ripened full.”

And their planting has flourished, and the fruit has fully ripened,”

أَخنى عَلى واحِدٍ رَيبُ الزَمانِ وَما

أَخنى عَلى واحِدٍ رَيبُ الزَمانِ وَما

يُبقي الزَمانُ عَلى شَيءٍ وَلا يَذَرُ

يُبقي الزَمانُ عَلى شَيءٍ وَلا يَذَرُ

Then time’s calamity laid one of us low—and

Time’s vicissitudes laid one low; and nothing

time spares nothing, nor leaves anything behind.

Does time spare or leave untouched.