وكناand we were زماناfor a time نبلwe moistened الهمومthe cares
وكنا زمانا نبل الهموم
ونطفيand we extinguished الجوىburning sorrow بزلالwith clear water الأمانيthe wishes
ونطفي الجوى بزلال الأماني
And for a time we would cool our cares,
And quench burning sorrow with the clear water of wishes.
فينعمso lives blissfully عيشاًin life بهنthrough them الجنانthe heart
فينعم عيشاً بهن الجنان
كأناas though we were بهاthrough them فيin نعيمthe bliss of الجنانParadise's gardens
كأنا بها في نعيم الجنان
So the heart would live blissfully through them,
As though through them we were in the bliss of Paradise's gardens.
فصرناthen we came إلىto زمنan age ليسthere is not فيهin it
فصرنا إلى زمن ليس فيه
منfrom لاعجthe searing torment of الهمgrief روحrelief لعانfor a sufferer
من لاعج الهم روح لعان
Then we came to an age in which there is no
Relief from searing grief for a sufferer.
شغلناwe were distracted بهin it عنfrom حديثtalk of المنىhopes
شغلنا به عن حديث المنى
ببثby pouring out الهمومthe cares وشكوىand lamenting الزمانthe times
ببث الهموم وشكوى الزمان
In it, we were distracted from talk of hopes
By pouring out our cares and lamenting the times.