وَلَمّا اِلتَقَينا لِلوَداعِ غُدَيَّةً

وَلَمّا اِلتَقَينا لِلوَداعِ غُدَيَّةً

وَقَد خَفَقَت في ساحَةِ القَصرِ راياتُ

وَقَد خَفَقَت في ساحَةِ القَصرِ راياتُ

And when we met for farewell early one morning,

When we met to bid farewell one morn

And banners were already fluttering in the palace courtyard,

With flags fluttering in the palace yard

وَقُرِّنَتِ الجُردُ العِتاقُ وَصَفَّقَت

وَقُرِّنَتِ الجُردُ العِتاقُ وَصَفَّقَت

طُبولٌ وَلاحَت لِلفِراقِ عَلاماتُ

طُبولٌ وَلاحَت لِلفِراقِ عَلاماتُ

And the sleek, noble steeds were paired, and there resounded

And regiments of guards all drawn and ranked

Drums, and signs of parting appeared,

With drums resounding and signs of parting shown

بَكَينا دَماً حَتّى كَأَنَّ عُيونَنا

بَكَينا دَماً حَتّى كَأَنَّ عُيونَنا

لِجَريِ الدُموعِ الحُمرِ فيها جِراحاتُ

لِجَريِ الدُموعِ الحُمرِ فيها جِراحاتُ

We wept blood, until it seemed our eyes

We wept blood till our eyes appeared as though

Were wounds, from the red tears flowing in them.

Wounded and oozing crimson tears of woe

وَكُنّا نُرَجّي الأَوبَ بَعدَ ثَلاثَةٍ

وَكُنّا نُرَجّي الأَوبَ بَعدَ ثَلاثَةٍ

فَكَيفَ وَقَد كانَت عَلَيها زِياداتُ

فَكَيفَ وَقَد كانَت عَلَيها زِياداتُ

And we had hoped for return after three,

We hoped to meet again in just three days

So how, when more had already been added to them?

How much harder now with time delayed