ولما بَدا ركْبُ السحابِ تسوقُه

ولما بَدا ركْبُ السحابِ تسوقُه

حُداةُ الرياحِ الهوجِ وهي تُزمجِرُ

حُداةُ الرياحِ الهوجِ وهي تُزمجِرُ

And when the caravan of clouds appeared, driven

When the caravan of clouds appeared, driven

by the raging winds, its drovers, as they roared,

By violent winds howling and raging,

ركنتُ لبيت أستجَنُ من الحَيا

ركنتُ لبيت أستجَنُ من الحَيا

بهِ وإذا غيثٌ من السقفِ يقطُرُ

بهِ وإذا غيثٌ من السقفِ يقطُرُ

I turned to a house, seeking shelter from the rain

I took shelter in a house, seeking refuge

within it—and behold, rain was dripping from the roof.

From the living, and lo, rain was dripping from the roof,

فلا فرقَ ما بين السحابِ وبينِه

فلا فرقَ ما بين السحابِ وبينِه

سوى أنّ ذا صافٍ وذاك مكدَّرُ

سوى أنّ ذا صافٍ وذاك مكدَّرُ

So there was no difference between the clouds and it,

So no difference between the clouds and it,

except that this was clear and that was muddied.

Except that one is clear and the other turbid.