أَرى طِوَلاً عَمَّ البَرِيَّةَ كُلُّها

أَرى طِوَلاً عَمَّ البَرِيَّةَ كُلُّها

فَيُقصَرُ بِالحُكمِ الإَِلهِيِّ أَو يُرخى

فَيُقصَرُ بِالحُكمِ الإَِلهِيِّ أَو يُرخى

I see a tether encompassing all creation;

I see the long shadow of dusk envelop the wilderness,

so it is shortened by divine decree, or slackened.

As it's shortened by divine decree, or lengthened.

ذَكَرنا الصِبا وَالشَرخَ ثُمَّ تَرادَفَت

ذَكَرنا الصِبا وَالشَرخَ ثُمَّ تَرادَفَت

حَوادِثُ أُنسَتِنا الشَبيبَةَ وَالشَرخا

حَوادِثُ أُنسَتِنا الشَبيبَةَ وَالشَرخا

We recalled childhood and youth's prime; then came, in succession,

We spoke of youth and its first stirrings, then followed

calamities that made us forget youth and its prime.

The events of our companionable youth and beginnings.

وَقَد يَنتَحي الزَندَ الغَويُّ بِجَهلِهِ

وَقَد يَنتَحي الزَندَ الغَويُّ بِجَهلِهِ

فَيَفضُل في القَدَحِ العَفارَةَ وَالمَرخا

فَيَفضُل في القَدَحِ العَفارَةَ وَالمَرخا

And a misguided man may, in his ignorance, choose a firestick

Yet an ignorant drunkard may choose in his folly

that surpasses ‘afār and markh wood in kindling fire.

Scum over the vintage, sediment over the draught.

فَإِن كُنتَ ذا لُبٍّ مَكينٍ فَلا تَقِس

فَإِن كُنتَ ذا لُبٍّ مَكينٍ فَلا تَقِس

بِحِمصِكَ وَالميماسِ دَجلَةَ وَالكَرَخا

بِحِمصِكَ وَالميماسِ دَجلَةَ وَالكَرَخا

So if you possess a sound mind, do not compare

If you're broad of mind, then do not compare

the Tigris and al-Karkh with your Homs and al-Mimas.

Your raisins and fruits to the Tigris and Euphrates.

وَقَد فُجِعَت بِالفَرخِ أَمسِ حَمامَةٌ

وَقَد فُجِعَت بِالفَرخِ أَمسِ حَمامَةٌ

فَما بالُها تُلفي بِمَوضِعِها فَرخا

فَما بالُها تُلفي بِمَوضِعِها فَرخا

And a dove was bereaved of her chick yesterday;

And yesterday a dove was bereaved of her nestling -

so how is it that she finds a chick in her place?

Why then does she keep circling the same empty nest?