تَسَمَّع للمنازل ما تقولُ

تَسَمَّع للمنازل ما تقولُ

لأمرٍ ما تكلمتِ الطلولُ

لأمرٍ ما تكلمتِ الطلولُ

Listen closely to what the dwellings say;

Listen to what the houses say

For some reason the ruins have spoken.

Of something the long nights spoke

وكيف يجيب سائله مَحَلٌ

وكيف يجيب سائله مَحَلٌ

بسلمانين من سلمى محيلُ

بسلمانين من سلمى محيلُ

And how can its questioner be answered by a dwelling

And how a place replies to one who asks

of Salma at Salmanayn, lying desolate?

With Salmas from a graceful Salma

ومثل المستهام أخي التصابي

ومثل المستهام أخي التصابي

شجت أطلالها الدرس المثولُ

شجت أطلالها الدرس المثولُ

And one like the lovesick man, given to youthful dalliance,

And like one urgently pleading, my brother weeping

has been saddened by her weathered ruins, still standing.

Its ruins taught the lesson of impermanence