أرى الغناء على شتى طرائقه

أرى الغناء على شتى طرائقه

فضلاً عن النطق أَعيا الحرفَ والكلما

فضلاً عن النطق أَعيا الحرفَ والكلما

I see song, in all its varied forms,

I see songs in their varied forms

as something beyond speech, defying letters and words.

Beyond speaking, grasping letters and words

جاشتْ به النفسُ، والألفاظُ قاصرةٌ

جاشتْ به النفسُ، والألفاظُ قاصرةٌ

فأرسلته على عِلاَّته نغما

فأرسلته على عِلاَّته نغما

The soul surged with it, while words fell short;

The soul overflowed with them, though words fall short

so it sent it forth, for all its flaws, as melody.

So I sent them forth in their glory as melody