خَبَّروني أَنَّ سَلمى

خَبَّروني أَنَّ سَلمى

خَرَجَت يَومَ المُصَلّى

خَرَجَت يَومَ المُصَلّى

They told me that Salma

They told me Salma went out

went out on the day of the prayer-ground gathering.

On the day of congregational prayer

فَإِذا طَيرٌ مَليحٌ

فَإِذا طَيرٌ مَليحٌ

فَوقَ غُضنٍ يَتَفَلّى

فَوقَ غُضنٍ يَتَفَلّى

Then, behold, a lovely bird

There was a beautiful bird

on a branch, preening itself.

Fluttering above the bushes

قُلتُ مَن يَعرِفُ سَلمى

قُلتُ مَن يَعرِفُ سَلمى

قالَ ها ثُمَّ تَعَلّى

قالَ ها ثُمَّ تَعَلّى

I said, 'Who knows Salma?'

I said, “who knows Salma?”

It said, 'Ha!' then rose aloft.

It said “Ah!” and then flew up high

قُلتُ يا طَيرُ ادنُ مِنّي

قُلتُ يا طَيرُ ادنُ مِنّي

قالَ ها ثُمَّ تَدَلّى

قالَ ها ثُمَّ تَدَلّى

I said, 'O bird, come near me.'

I said “O bird, come closer to me”

It said, 'Ha!' then descended.

It said “Ah!” and then swooped down

قُلتُ هَل أَبصَرتَ سَلمى

قُلتُ هَل أَبصَرتَ سَلمى

قالَ لا ثُمَّ تَوَلّى

قالَ لا ثُمَّ تَوَلّى

I said, 'Have you seen Salma?'

I said “did you see Salma?”

It said, 'No,' then turned away.

It said “No!” and then flew away

فَنَكا في القَلبِ كَلماً

فَنَكا في القَلبِ كَلماً

باطِناً ثُمَّ تَعَلّى

باطِناً ثُمَّ تَعَلّى

So it reopened a wound in my heart,

It left in my heart a hidden word

deep within, then rose aloft.

Then arose and flew up high