ألمHave ... not ترَyou seen أنيthat I لاdo not ألينُyield لناعمٍto a man of ease
ألم ترَ أني لا ألينُ لناعمٍ
ولاand do not أبتديI approach first ربَّthe one responsible for القطيعةsevering ties بالوصلwith renewed ties
ولا أبتدي ربَّ القطيعة بالوصل
Have you not seen that I do not yield to one who lives in ease,
Have you not seen that I do not yield to a man of ease,
nor am I the first to offer reunion to the one who broke the bond?
Nor am I first to renew ties with one who severs them,
وأنيand that I متىwhenever أُنكبam afflicted منby الدهرtime نكبةًa calamity
وأني متى أُنكب من الدهر نكبةً
أكفكفُI ward off غربيَهاits two sharp edges بصبرٍwith patience فتىًa young man جزلresolute
أكفكفُ غربيَها بصبرٍ فتىً جزل
And whenever I am struck by some blow of fate,
And that whenever time strikes me with a calamity,
I ward off its keen edge with the patience of a stouthearted youth.
I ward off its two sharp edges with a resolute young man's patience?
