وَرَمَت يَدُ الأَيّامِ نَحوِيَ أَسهُماً

وَرَمَت يَدُ الأَيّامِ نَحوِيَ أَسهُماً

أَمسَيتُ مِنها إِن نَهَضتُ مُتَرَّسا

أَمسَيتُ مِنها إِن نَهَضتُ مُتَرَّسا

And the hand of time hurled arrows toward me;

The hand of time has flung its arrows at me

Now, if I rise, I do so armed with a shield against them.

If I arise, armed against them, I weary

أَفَيَأمُلُ الغادي إِلَيكَ مُهَجِّراً

أَفَيَأمُلُ الغادي إِلَيكَ مُهَجِّراً

ما يُعجِزُ الساري إِلَيكَ مُغَلِّسا

ما يُعجِزُ الساري إِلَيكَ مُغَلِّسا

Then does the morning traveler, coming to you in the midday heat, hope for

Can one returning to you, an exile, hope

What eludes the night traveler coming to you before dawn?

That which hampers one coming to you, shackled