كانواthey were معانيmeanings المغانيthe dwellings حينَwhen ينشدُهُمْhe sings to them
كانوا معاني المغاني حينَ ينشدُهُمْ
شادٍa singer يجاوبُهُanswers him حُسْنٌbeauty وإحسانُand kindness
شادٍ يجاوبُهُ حُسْنٌ وإحسانُ
They were the dwellings’ very meaning, when sung to
By a singer whom beauty and kindness answered.
ماnot أنتَyou حينَwhen تُغنِّيyou sing فيin منازلهمtheir homes
ما أنتَ حينَ تُغنِّي في منازلهم
إلاbut نسيمbreeze الصباthe east wind والقومُand the people أغصانُboughs
إلا نسيم الصبا والقومُ أغصانُ
When you sing in their homes, you are nothing
But the east wind’s breeze, and the people are boughs.
Sol 6.1