أَرى البَحرَ مِلحاً لا يَجودُ لِوارِدٍ

أَرى البَحرَ مِلحاً لا يَجودُ لِوارِدٍ

بِوِردٍ فَعومي في السَرابِ وَعامي

بِوِردٍ فَعومي في السَرابِ وَعامي

I see the sea is salt, granting no water-seeker

I see the sea salty, not generous to the visitor

a draught; so swim in the mirage, and thirst.

With a blooming rose, I wander in mirage and wander years

تَميلينَ عَن نَهجِ اليَقينِ كَأَنَّما

تَميلينَ عَن نَهجِ اليَقينِ كَأَنَّما

سَرى بِكَ أَعمى أَو عَراكِ تَعامي

سَرى بِكَ أَعمى أَو عَراكِ تَعامي

You turn aside from the path of certainty, as though

You both lean away from the path of certainty as if

a blind man had led you by night, or feigned blindness had seized you.

A blind man walked with you or a barefoot nomad

سِمامُ أَفاعٍ في اِهتِضامِ خَوادِرٍ

سِمامُ أَفاعٍ في اِهتِضامِ خَوادِرٍ

وَخَتلُ ذِئابٍ في حُلومِ نَعامِ

وَخَتلُ ذِئابٍ في حُلومِ نَعامِ

Vipers' venom in the oppression of lair-dwelling lions,

The cry of eagles in the breaking of eggs

and wolves' guile in the wits of ostriches.

And the howl of wolves in the flesh of ostriches

وَكَم مَرَّ عامٌ لَم أَكُن بَعضَ أَهلِهِ

وَكَم مَرَّ عامٌ لَم أَكُن بَعضَ أَهلِهِ

وَكَم نُبِذَت خَلفي أَهِلَّةُ عامِ

وَكَم نُبِذَت خَلفي أَهِلَّةُ عامِ

And how many a year passed when I was not among its people,

And how many years have passed that I was not part of its people

and how many a year's crescent moons have been cast behind me!

And how my people were abandoned behind my back

فَبُعداً لِنَفسٍ لا تَزالُ ذَليلَةً

فَبُعداً لِنَفسٍ لا تَزالُ ذَليلَةً

لِحُبِّ شَرابٍ أَو لِحُبِّ طَعامِ

لِحُبِّ شَرابٍ أَو لِحُبِّ طَعامِ

Away, then, with a soul that remains servile

So away with a soul that remains miserable

for love of drink or love of food.

For the love of drink or the love of food