حبسواthey imprisoned طيرbird الهوىlove فيin قفصٍa cage
حبسوا طير الهوى في قفصٍ
فعليهso for him ضاقgrew narrow هذاthis القفصُthe cage
فعليه ضاق هذا القفصُ
They imprisoned the bird of passion in a cage,
They imprisoned the bird of love in a cage.
and this cage closed in around him.
So this cage grew too narrow for him.
منعوهthey denied him الزادfood والماءand water وقدand already
منعوه الزاد والماء وقد
علِمواthey knew كيفhow اعترتهovertook him الغصصُchoking pangs
علِموا كيف اعترته الغصصُ
They denied him food and water, though
They denied him food and water, even though
they knew what choking anguish had overtaken him there.
they knew how choking pangs had overtaken him.
ليتif only شعريmy knowledge ذاكthat يرضونthey are content بهwith it
ليت شعري ذاك يرضون به
إنهمindeed they قالواsaid عليهover him احترصواkeep watch
إنهم قالوا عليه احترصوا
Would that I knew—are they content with that?
I wish I knew: are they content with that?
Indeed, they said, “Keep close watch over him.”
Indeed, they said, "Keep watch over him."
ياO ابنson أميmy mother إنif تكنit is منكَرةًdisapproved of
يا ابن أمي إن تكن منكَرةً
حالتيmy state فهيthen it is لعمريby my life فرصopportunities
حالتي فهي لعمري فرص
O son of my mother, if you disapprove of
O son of my mother, if you disapprove
my condition—by my life, it is opportunities aplenty.
of my state—by my life, it offers opportunities.
كلماwhenever قدindeed قلتI said تمتhave ended قصصtales
كلما قد قلت تمت قصص
ظهرتappeared ليto me فيin هواهمlove for them قصصtales
ظهرت لي في هواهم قصص
Whenever I have said, “The tales are ended,”
Whenever I said, "The tales have ended,"
new tales have appeared to me in my love of them.
tales appeared to me in my love for them.
قلsay لهمto them ياO سعدSa'd ماnot بيin me رمقa spark of life
قل لهم يا سعد ما بي رمق
ياO ظباءًgazelles للأسودthe lions اقتنصواthey hunted down
يا ظباءً للأسود اقتنصوا
Tell them, Sa‘d: hardly any life remains in me.
Tell them, O Sa'd: no spark of life remains in me.
O gazelles, capture the lions!
O gazelles who have hunted down the lions!
هلdoes لهfor him الحصةthe share منof رحمتكمyour mercy
هل له الحصة من رحمتكم
هوhe منهof him لهواكمfor love of you حصصshares
هو منه لهواكم حصص
Has he any share in your mercy—
Does he have a share of your mercy—
he from whom love of you has claimed so many shares?
he, of whom love of you has its shares?
ياO بياضwhiteness الدمعthe tears منfrom فرقتكمparting from you
يا بياض الدمع من فرقتكم
منwho ترىdo you think يبريكcures you أنتyou البرصleprosy
من ترى يبريك أنت البرص
What whiteness in the tears shed from parting with you!
O whiteness of tears from parting with you,
Who, do you think, can cure you? You are leprosy itself.
who, do you think, can cure you? You are leprosy.
هذهthis الحالةstate ترضونyou are content بهاwith it
هذه الحالة ترضون بها
أناI راضcontent وهيand it is عنديto me رخصconcessions
أنا راض وهي عندي رخص
Are you content with this condition?
Are you content with this state?
I am content; to me, it is a small price.
I am content; to me, it offers concessions.
