إِلىuntil كَمhow long أُبيدُI wear out البَيدَthe deserts فيin طَلَبِpursuit of الغِنىwealth
إِلى كَم أُبيدُ البَيدَ في طَلَبِ الغِنى
وَأَقرَبُand the nearest of رِزقيmy sustenance فَوقَabove نَجمِthe star سُهَيلِSuhayl (Canopus)
وَأَقرَبُ رِزقي فَوقَ نَجمِ سُهَيلِ
How long shall I wear out the wastes in pursuit of wealth,
How long shall I annihilate myself seeking wealth,
while my nearest sustenance lies above the star Suhayl?
While my sustenance lies above Suhail star?
وَقَدand already وَخَطَhas flecked الشَيبُgray hair الشَبابَyouth كَأَنَّهُas though it were
وَقَد وَخَطَ الشَيبُ الشَبابَ كَأَنَّهُ
أَوائِلُthe beginnings of صُبحٍdawn فيin أَواخِرِthe last hours of لَيلِnight
أَوائِلُ صُبحٍ في أَواخِرِ لَيلِ
And gray hair has flecked youth, as though it were
And gray hair has obscured my youth as if it were
the beginnings of dawn in the last hours of night.
The first light of dawn in the darkness of night.
Sol 6.1