ربَّmany a رَبعٍdwelling-place وقفتُI stopped فيهin it وعهدٍand a familiar haunt
ربَّ رَبعٍ وقفتُ فيه وعهدٍ
لمْdid not أجاوزهI pass beyond it والركائبُand the riding camels تسريtravel by night
لمْ أجاوزه والركائبُ تسري
Many a dwelling I have stopped in, and many a familiar haunt
I stood in a land and time
I did not pass beyond, while the riding camels journeyed by night.
I had not passed though the tents moved on
أسألُI ask الدارَthe dwelling وهيwhile it is قفرُbarren خلاءٌdeserted
أسألُ الدارَ وهي قفرُ خلاءٌ
عنabout حبيبa beloved قدalready حلّهاhe dwelt in it منذُsince دهرِan age
عن حبيب قد حلّها منذُ دهرِ
I ask the dwelling, though it is barren and deserted,
I asked the empty, desolate abode
About a beloved who dwelt there long ago,
About the beloved who dwelt here long ago
حيثُwhere لاno مسعدُcomforter علىin الوجدِlonging إلاّexcept
حيثُ لا مسعدُ على الوجدِ إلاّ
عينُthe eye of حرِّa noble man تجودُsheds tears freely أوor ساقُsāq (with ḥurr: a male turtledove) حرḥurr (completing the bird's name)
عينُ حرِّ تجودُ أو ساقُ حر
Where there is no comforter in longing except
Where none is glad of love's longing
A noble man's eye shedding tears, or a turtledove.
Save eyes that keep vigil, or feet that wander afar
Sol 6.1