قد كان يحكيه صوبُ الغيثِ منسكباً

قد كان يحكيه صوبُ الغيثِ منسكباً

لو كان طَلقَ المحيَّا يُمطرُ الذهبا

لو كان طَلقَ المحيَّا يُمطرُ الذهبا

The pouring rain would indeed resemble him,

He would tell of it towards the pouring rain

if it were cheerful-faced and showered gold;

If the bright face of morning would rain gold

والدهرُ لو لم يخُن والشمسُ لو نطقت

والدهرُ لو لم يخُن والشمسُ لو نطقت

والليثُ لو لم يُصَد والبحرُ لو عَذُبا

والليثُ لو لم يُصَد والبحرُ لو عَذُبا

and time, if it did not betray, and the sun, if it spoke;

And if fate had not betrayed and the sun had spoken

and the lion, if it were not hunted, and the sea, if it were sweet.

If the lion had not been repelled and the sea made sweet