فتىa young man لاnot تراهyou see him لابساًwearing ظلshadow of نبوةa setback
فتى لا تراه لابساً ظل نبوة
ولاand not راكباًriding إلاexcept ظهورbacks of العزائمِfirm resolves
ولا راكباً إلا ظهور العزائمِ
A young man you never see clad in the shadow of a setback,
A youth you see not wearing the mantle of prophecy
Nor riding anything but the backs of firm resolves,
Nor riding except on the backs of resolves
ولاand not ساحباًtrailing ذيلاًa hem ولاand not باسطاًextending يداًa hand
ولا ساحباً ذيلاً ولا باسطاً يداً
ولاand not قدماًa foot إلاّexcept علىupon فمmouth of لائمِa reproacher
ولا قدماً إلاّ على فم لائمِ
Nor trailing a hem, nor extending a hand,
Nor dragging a train nor stretching out a hand
Nor a foot, except upon a reproacher’s mouth.
Except setting foot on the mouth of blamers
إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) اشتكتcomplains of وقعtread of المناسمcamel feet بلدةa town
إذا ما اشتكت وقع المناسم بلدة
تشكّتcomplains إليهto him الأرضthe earth وقعtread of المناسمِcamel feet
تشكّت إليه الأرض وقع المناسمِ
Whenever a town complains of the tread of camel feet,
When the place of tryst complains of desolation
The earth complains to him of the tread of camel feet.
The land complains only to him of desolation