كانتthere was للفظيto my words رقَّةٌtenderness
كانت للفظي رقَّةٌ
ضنَّwas sparing الزمانtime بماwith what اسْتحقتit deserved
ضنَّ الزمان بما اسْتحقت
There was a tenderness to my words.
Time withheld what it deserved.
فصرفتهاso I turned it away عنfrom قدرتِيmy power
فصرفتها عن قدرتِي
وقطعتهاand I cut it منfrom حيثwhere رقَّتit grew thin
وقطعتها من حيث رقَّت
So I turned it away from my power,
And cut it where it grew thin.