خَبَّروني اليَومَ أَنّي في غدِ

مالىءٌ عَينِيَ منها وَيَدي

They told me today that tomorrow

My eyes and hands will be full of it

كيف يَبقى من قَى اللَيل على

جُرُفٍ هارٍ إلى ذا المَوعدِ

How can someone who spent the night tossing

Violently make it to that appointment

رَبِّ كُن عوني وَأَخِّرني إلى

أَن أَرى شمسَ الضحى من عُوَّدي

My Lord, aid me and delay me

Until I see the morning sun from my nest

يا أُساةَ الحيِّ لو أَجَّلتُمُ

رَأيكُم فيَّ إلى يومِ غدِ

O comfort of the living, if you would

Put off your opinion of me till tomorrow

رُبَّ داءٍ لا يُرجّى بُرؤُهُ

قد شَفَتهُ زَورَةٌ من مُسعدِ

Many an illness with no hope of healing

Has been cured by a visit from one bringing good news