كانت قناتي لا تلين لغامزٍ

كانت قناتي لا تلين لغامزٍ

فألأنَها الاصباح والامساءُ

فألأنَها الاصباح والامساءُ

My spear shaft would not bend to anyone pressing it,

My eyelids would not soften for any winkers

but morning and evening softened it.

But dawn and dusk have made them gentle

ودعوتُ ربي بالسلامة جاهداً

ودعوتُ ربي بالسلامة جاهداً

ليُصحَني فاذا السلامةُ داءُ

ليُصحَني فاذا السلامةُ داءُ

And I earnestly prayed to my Lord for health,

And I called on my Lord desperately for wellbeing

that He might make me well—but behold, health is a disease.

That He may heal me, yet wellbeing itself is the illness