أأباO Abu العلاءal-Ala وأنتand you تدريknow ماwhat الذيwhich
أأبا العلاء وأنت تدري ما الذي
تطوىare folded عليهaround it منof الوِدادaffection ضلوعيmy ribs
تطوى عليه من الوِداد ضلوعي
O Abu al-Ala—and you know what
O Abul Ala, though you know what
my ribs enfold of affection—
my ribs conceal of affection
تختصكمsingles you out منيfrom me تحيةَa greeting شيِّقone who yearns
تختصكم مني تحيةَ شيِّق
لولاwere it not for اختصارِيmy brevity لامتَحتit would have been erased بدموعيby my tears
لولا اختصارِي لامتَحت بدموعي
a greeting from me, one who yearns, is yours alone;
I send you a piercing greeting -
had I not kept it brief, my tears would have washed it away.
had I not curbed myself, I would have shed tears
راعيتI observed فيهاin it للوفاءfor loyalty أذمةًobligations
راعيت فيها للوفاء أذمةً
إنّindeed الوفاءloyalty أحقmost deserving شيءthing روعيwas given due regard
إنّ الوفاء أحق شيء روعي
In it I honored the obligations of loyalty;
In it I have observed fidelity's most delicate points
indeed, loyalty is the thing most deserving of regard.
for fidelity is the most worthy thing to observe
Sol 6.1