وَحمَّلتُand I loaded شعريmy poetry كاهلَthe shoulder الريحof the wind بعدafter ماthat
وَحمَّلتُ شعري كاهلَ الريح بعد ما
كَسَتهُclothed it صُروفُthe vicissitudes الدَّهرِof time حُلَّةَa robe مُقعَدِof a cripple
كَسَتهُ صُروفُ الدَّهرِ حُلَّةَ مُقعَدِ
I set my poetry upon the wind’s shoulder, after
And I loaded my poetry onto the wind’s shoulders, after
the vicissitudes of Time had clothed it in the garb of one immobilized.
the vicissitudes of time had clothed it in a cripple’s robe.
وماand not الشعرُpoetry إلاexcept جمرةٌan ember إنif سَعَرتَهاyou kindle it
وما الشعرُ إلا جمرةٌ إن سَعَرتَها
أَضاءتit gives light وإنand if أهملتهاyou neglect it لمnot تَوَقَّدِblaze
أَضاءت وإن أهملتها لم تَوَقَّدِ
Poetry is nothing but an ember: if you kindle it,
And poetry is nothing but an ember: if you kindle it,
it shines; but if you neglect it, it will not blaze.
it gives light; and if you neglect it, it will not blaze.
Sol 6.1