ياO صَريعاًslain one لَمdid not تُغنavail عَنهُfor him أُسودٌlions
يا صَريعاً لَم تُغن عَنهُ أُسودٌ
فَوقَupon خَيلٍhorses يَجلنُroam فيin البيدِthe wastes خيطاa flock of ostriches
فَوقَ خَيلٍ يَجلنُ في البيدِ خيطا
O slain one, whom lions could not save,
O slain one, whom lions could not save,
On horses roaming the wastes like a flock of ostriches.
Mounted on steeds that thread the desert wastes,
عبرَتيmy tear تَحرِقُburns الجُفونَthe eyelids إِذاwhen ماever (emphatic)
عبرَتي تَحرِقُ الجُفونَ إِذا ما
بَعضُهاpart of them لِلرِّقادِfor sleep بِالبَعضِto the other part خيطاwas stitched
بَعضُها لِلرِّقادِ بِالبَعضِ خيطا
My tear burns my eyelids whenever
My tear burns my eyelids whenever,
One is stitched to the other for sleep.
They are stitched together for the sake of sleep.