1. يمرّني كل عام يوم ميلادي

    يوم أعرفه ويوم انسى مواعيده

    My birthday comes around each year.

    Sometimes I recognize it, and sometimes I forget when it falls.

  2. يمرّني وانتبه للغايب البادي

    واهوجس بحال غيري من مواليده

    It passes by me, and I notice what is absent yet apparent.

    And I muse on the condition of others born on it.

  3. أرتاع وارتاح له  يفرق وهو عادي

    ينقص من العمر عام في ضحى عيده

    I am alarmed and find comfort in it; it matters, though it is ordinary.

    It takes a year from my life at midmorning on its day of celebration.

  4. أناغم الحرف ذا باكي وذا شادي

    وارسل مع كل دمعه وجد تغريده

    I harmonize with the written word—one weeping, the other singing.

    And with every tear of longing, I send a warbled song.

  5. ياوابل الغيث كان الحظ به جاد

    يزهر حياتي نداه وتزدهر بيده

    O downpour of rain, if fortune gives it freely,

    Its dew makes my life blossom, and it flourishes by its hand.

  6. ياركب الايام معك العمر ينقاد

    كم ليلة(ن) وسّدتني فيك تنهيده

    O caravan of days, my life is led along with you.

    How many a night has a sigh pillowed me within you!

  7. ويارحلة العمر في صحوات ورقاد

    ويارعشة الجفن في غفوه وتسهيده

    And O journey of life, through awakenings and slumber,

    And O tremor of the eyelid, in its dozing and sleeplessness,

  8. في لحظة العمر تسري فزّة فوادي

    لحظه وفزّه وباقي العمر ترديده

    In a moment of life, a sudden stir runs through my heart.

    A moment, a sudden stir, and the rest of life is its echo.

  9. الّلحظه الماضيه ما عاد تنعاد

    والقادم من العمر باالغيب تفنيده

    The moment gone by can never be repeated.

    And the details of what is yet to come in life lie in the unseen.

  10. ثلاثة ايّام للرجّال يا هادي

    يومين دنياه ويوم البعث تخليده

    A man has three days, O Hadi:

    Two days are his earthly life, and Resurrection Day his eternity.