أَمعلنَ النَوح في أَغصانِه شجناً

أَمعلنَ النَوح في أَغصانِه شجناً

خفِّض عليك فقد أَودى بك الشجنُ

خفِّض عليك فقد أَودى بك الشجنُ

O herald of lament, grieving among his branches,

The branches lament with sorrowful wailing,

Be easy on yourself, for sorrow has undone you.

Grief has overcome you, so lower yourself in submission.

هَذي غصونُك لا تنفكُّ مائسةً

هَذي غصونُك لا تنفكُّ مائسةً

وَذاكَ إِلفُكَ لم يَعصِف به الزَمَنُ

وَذاكَ إِلفُكَ لم يَعصِف به الزَمَنُ

These branches of yours never cease their graceful swaying,

These are your branches, ceaselessly bending,

And that is your mate, whom time has not ravaged.

While your companionship remains unshaken by time.

فَكَيفَ بي لا أَزالُ الدهرَ منفرداً

فَكَيفَ بي لا أَزالُ الدهرَ منفرداً

جافي المضاجِع لا إِلفٌ ولا سَكَنُ

جافي المضاجِع لا إِلفٌ ولا سَكَنُ

Then what of me, who remain forever alone,

How can I, alone for eternity, endure this?

Shunning beds, with neither companion nor solace?

With a bed bereft of intimacy or tranquility.

ألوى بحادثِ عَهدي حادِثٌ جللٌ

ألوى بحادثِ عَهدي حادِثٌ جللٌ

وَشفَّني مِن زَماني الهمُّ والحَزَنُ

وَشفَّني مِن زَماني الهمُّ والحَزَنُ

A grievous calamity has carried off one newly known to me,

An immense calamity befell the time of my youth,

And the care and sorrow of my days have wasted me away.

And my worries and sadness have healed my wounds.