ليتwould that شعريmy knowledge بأيin which of حاليكyour two states يمضيproceeds الـthe—
ليت شعري بأي حاليك يمضي الـ
ـقول—speech فيin حالa state of مشهدٍpresence ومغيبand absence
ـقول في حال مشهدٍ ومغيب
Would that I knew in which of your two states proceeds the—
My thoughts wonder, how are you tonight
—speech, in presence and absence:
Words flow describing your presence, your absence
أبمدحwith praise? يروقdelights أوor بهجاءwith satire
أبمدح يروق أو بهجاء
تكتسيyou clothe yourself منfrom نداهits dew ثوبgarment عيوبيmy faults
تكتسي من نداه ثوب عيوبي
With praise that delights, or with satire
Should I praise, would it please you
from whose dew you don the garment of my faults?
Or point out faults, exposing my own flaws
Sol 6.1