سقىmay water اللهGod قبراًa grave كنتِyou were روضةthe garden of عيشهits life
سقى الله قبراً كنتِ روضة عيشه
وجنتهand its paradise كيفhow استبدdealt tyrannically بكِwith you الدهرtime
وجنته كيف استبد بكِ الدهر
May God water a grave—you were the garden of its life,
May God water the grave that was once your garden of life
And its paradise. How cruelly time has treated you!
How could fate take you away so suddenly?
لقدindeed كنتِyou were عنfor لحظthe glances of العيونthe eyes رقيقةdelicate
لقد كنتِ عن لحظ العيون رقيقة
يؤثرleaves a mark فيكon you اللحظthe glance والنظرand the gaze الشزرhostile and sidelong
يؤثر فيك اللحظ والنظر الشزر
You were indeed too delicate for the glances of eyes;
You were once so gentle, moved by a glance, a look
Glances and hostile, sidelong looks would leave their mark on you.
Beautiful it is, and God's right, for one like you to weep
جميلfitting وحقand by the right of اللهGod فيfor مثلكone like you البكاweeping
جميل وحق الله في مثلك البكا
وأجملand more fitting ليfor me منهthan it التجلّدfortitude والصبرand patience
وأجمل لي منه التجلّد والصبر
By God, weeping for one like you is fitting;
And yet more beautiful for me is patience and resilience
Yet fortitude and patience are more fitting for me than that.
If I restrain my soul, it is my dignity
فإنso if صبرتendures patiently نفسيmy soul فذلكthen that شيمتيmy nature
فإن صبرت نفسي فذلك شيمتي
وإنand if جزعتgives way to grief يوماًone day فأنتthen you لهاfor it عُذرan excuse
وإن جزعت يوماً فأنت لها عُذر
So if my soul endures patiently, that is my nature;
And if I despair for a day, you are its excuse
And if one day it gives way to grief, you are its excuse.
Partial English translation: 7 of 8 Arabic lines translated.
Sol 6.1