كَم متّ إِذ هَيهاتَ فيهِ سَمِعتها

كَم متّ إِذ هَيهاتَ فيهِ سَمِعتها

وَحييت إِذ سَمِعت لَعَلَّ أَو عَسى

وَحييت إِذ سَمِعت لَعَلَّ أَو عَسى

How often I died when I heard, concerning him, “Far from it!”

How often I died when I heard 'far from it' spoken of him,

and came alive when I heard “perhaps” or “maybe.”

And revived when I heard 'perchance' or 'maybe'.

يا مَوتُ كَم قَصَفت رِياحكَ قَبلَهُ

يا مَوتُ كَم قَصَفت رِياحكَ قَبلَهُ

مِن غُصن بانٍ كانَ يَحمِلُ أَو عَسا

مِن غُصن بانٍ كانَ يَحمِلُ أَو عَسا

O Death, how many before him have your winds broken—

O Death, how frequently have your gales shattered, before him,

boughs of the bān tree, whether bearing fruit or grown hard and dry?

Many a willow branch that was bearing life, or growing firm.