بِالهَزلِ تَشوبُ جَدَّها ظَمياءُ

بِالهَزلِ تَشوبُ جَدَّها ظَمياءُ

إِذ مِنّيَ في فُؤادِها أَشياءُ

إِذ مِنّيَ في فُؤادِها أَشياءُ

With playfulness, Zamyā mingles her earnestness,

Ẓamyāʾ mingles her earnestness with jest,

For there are things of mine within her heart.

For there are things of me in her heart.

قالَت أَحيَيتَ بَعدَنا قُلت نَعَم

قالَت أَحيَيتَ بَعدَنا قُلت نَعَم

قَتلاكِ صَبابَةً هُمُ الأَحياءُ

قَتلاكِ صَبابَةً هُمُ الأَحياءُ

She asked, “Did you live on after us?” I said, “Yes—

She said, “Have you lived on after us?” I said, “Yes—

Those you slew with longing—they are the living.”

Those you have slain through longing are the living.”