يا ما أسقع الندى يا صاح

يا ما أسقع الندى يا صاح

بأرض الربيع

بأرض الربيع

Oh, how bitterly cold the dew is, my friend,

Oh, how cold the dew is, my friend,

in the land of spring!

In the land of spring!

ومَن قد مات فيها راح

ومَن قد مات فيها راح

وعمرك سقيع

وعمرك سقيع

And whoever has died there has gone to rest;

And whoever has died there has gone,

and, by your life, it is bitter cold.

And, by your life, is cold.

وصار في كلامه المشكاح

وصار في كلامه المشكاح

يقول فيه سريع

يقول فيه سريع

And the glib talker began, in his discourse,

And the merry fellow began, in his talk,

to speak of it swiftly:

To speak of it quickly:

القمر قمر غاب أو ظهر

القمر قمر غاب أو ظهر

حتى في السفر

حتى في السفر

The moon is the moon, whether it vanishes or appears,

The moon is a moon, whether it disappears or appears,

even while traveling;

Even on a journey.

والبشر بشر أنثى مع ذكر

والبشر بشر أنثى مع ذكر

يزرعوا شجر

يزرعوا شجر

and people are people—female together with male—

And humans are humans, female with male;

who plant trees

They plant trees,

يلوح فيه ثمار

يلوح فيه ثمار

وفي ظني من سمع ذا

وفي ظني من سمع ذا

on which fruits appear.

On which fruits appear.

And in my view, whoever hears this

And, in my opinion, whoever hears this

لظنه فشار

لظنه فشار

would surely take it for hot air.

Would surely take it for tall tales.