يا مَوْتُ قدْ مزَّقْتَ صَدْري

يا مَوْتُ قدْ مزَّقْتَ صَدْري

وقَصَمْت بالأَرزاءَ ظَهْرِي

وقَصَمْت بالأَرزاءَ ظَهْرِي

O Death, you have torn my breast apart

O Death, you have torn my chest

Oh Death, you have ripped my breast apart,

and broken my back with calamities.

And broken my back with sorrow

And broken my back with the weight of woes,

ورمَيْتَني مِنْ حالقٍ

ورمَيْتَني مِنْ حالقٍ

وسَخِرْتَ منِّي أَيَّ سُخْرِ

وسَخِرْتَ منِّي أَيَّ سُخْرِ

And you hurled me from a lofty height

You have cast me into the abyss

You cast me down from a towering height,

and mocked me—such mockery!

And mocked me, how mockingly!

And mocked me with the cruelest scorn,

فلَبِثْتُ مرضوضَ الفؤادِ

فلَبِثْتُ مرضوضَ الفؤادِ

أَجرُّ أجنحتي بذُعْرِ

أَجرُّ أجنحتي بذُعْرِ

So I remained, my heart crushed,

So I remained, my heart writhing,

So I remained with a shattered heart,

dragging my wings in terror.

Dragging my wings in fright,

Dragging my wings in trembling dread,

وقَسَوْتَ إذْ أَبقيتَنِي في

وقَسَوْتَ إذْ أَبقيتَنِي في

الكونِ أَذْرَعُ كُلَّ وَعْرِ

الكونِ أَذْرَعُ كُلَّ وَعْرِ

And you were cruel when you kept me in

And you were cruel leaving me

You were cruel to leave me in this realm,

the universe, traversing every rugged place.

To flounder in every hardship.

To traverse every rugged and jagged path,

وفَجَعْتَني فيمَنْ أُحِبُّ

وفَجَعْتَني فيمَنْ أُحِبُّ

ومنْ إليهِ أَبُثُّ سرِّي

ومنْ إليهِ أَبُثُّ سرِّي

And you bereaved me of the one I love,

And you pained me about one I love,

You struck me down through the one I love,

the one to whom I confide my secret,

To whom I confide my secrets,

The one to whom I confided my soul,

وأَعُدُّهُ فَجْرِي الجميلَ

وأَعُدُّهُ فَجْرِي الجميلَ

إِذا ادْلَهَمَّ عليَّ دَهْري

إِذا ادْلَهَمَّ عليَّ دَهْري

whom I regard as my beautiful dawn

And whom I count as my beautiful dawn

Whom I deemed my beautiful, breaking dawn,

when my days grow dark around me,

When the days darken around me.

Whenever my fate grew dark and grim,

وأَعُدُّهُ وَرْدِي ومِزْماري

وأَعُدُّهُ وَرْدِي ومِزْماري

وكَاسَاتي وخَمْرِي

وكَاسَاتي وخَمْرِي

and whom I regard as my roses and my flute,

I count him as my rose and my flute,

I held him as my rose and my flute,

my cups and my wine,

My wine cups and my wine,

My overflowing cups and my wine,

وأَعُدُّهُ غَابي ومِحْرابي

وأَعُدُّهُ غَابي ومِحْرابي

وأُغْنِيَتي وفَجْرِي

وأُغْنِيَتي وفَجْرِي

and whom I regard as my forest and my sanctuary,

I count him as my forest and my shrine,

I held him as my forest and my sanctuary,

my song and my dawn.

My song and my dawn.

My song and my morning light,

وَرَزَأْتَني في عُمْدَتي

وَرَزَأْتَني في عُمْدَتي

ومَشُورَتي في كلِّ أمْرِ

ومَشُورَتي في كلِّ أمْرِ

And you bereaved me of my mainstay,

You have abandoned me of my pillar

You afflicted me in my pillar of strength,

and my counsel in every matter.

And my counsel in every matter,

My counsel in every deed and affair,

وهَدَمْتَ صرحاً لا أَلوذُ

وهَدَمْتَ صرحاً لا أَلوذُ

بغيرِهِ وهَتَكْتَ سِتْرِي

بغيرِهِ وهَتَكْتَ سِتْرِي

And you demolished an edifice—I take no refuge

And destroyed a palace for me

You razed a fortress; I seek no refuge

in any other—and you tore away my veil.

With no other refuge, rending my veil.

Save in him, and now you have torn my veil.

فَفَقَدْتُ روحاً طاهراً

فَفَقَدْتُ روحاً طاهراً

شهماً يَجِيشُ بكلِّ خَيْرِ

شهماً يَجِيشُ بكلِّ خَيْرِ

So I lost a pure spirit,

So I lost a pure soul

Thus I have lost a spirit so pure,

noble, brimming with all goodness.

Nobly overflowing with all good,

Gallant, overflowing with boundless good.

وَفَقَدْتُ قلباً همُّهُ أَنْ

وَفَقَدْتُ قلباً همُّهُ أَنْ

يستوي في الأُفقِ بدْرِي

يستوي في الأُفقِ بدْرِي

And I lost a heart whose concern was that

And lost a heart whose only care

I have lost a heart whose only care

my full moon should rise on the horizon.

Was to rise in my horizon like the full moon.

Was that my full moon rise high in the sky.

وَفَقَدْتُ كفًّا في الحَيَاةِ

وَفَقَدْتُ كفًّا في الحَيَاةِ

يصُدُّ عنِّي كلَّ شرِّ

يصُدُّ عنِّي كلَّ شرِّ

And I lost a hand that, in life,

And I lost a hand that in life

I have lost a hand in this life,

warded off every evil from me.

Would ward every evil from me,

That warded off every evil from me.

وَفَقَدْتُ وجهاً لا يُعَبِّسُهُ

وَفَقَدْتُ وجهاً لا يُعَبِّسُهُ

سوى حَزَني وضُرِّي

سوى حَزَني وضُرِّي

And I lost a face that nothing made frown

And lost a face that frowned

I have lost a face that never frowned,

except my sorrow and my suffering.

Only at my sorrow and misfortune.

Save at my sorrow or my pain.

وَفَقَدْتُ نفساً لا تَني عنْ

وَفَقَدْتُ نفساً لا تَني عنْ

صوْن أَفراحي وبِشْرِي

صوْن أَفراحي وبِشْرِي

And I lost a soul that never tired of

And I lost a self that never deserted

I have lost a soul that never ceased

guarding my joys and my gladness.

Guarding my joys and tidings,

To guard my joys and delight.

وَفَقَدْتُ رُكني في الحَيَاةِ

وَفَقَدْتُ رُكني في الحَيَاةِ

ورايَتي وعمادَ قصْرِي

ورايَتي وعمادَ قصْرِي

And I lost my pillar in life,

And I lost my pillar in life,

I have lost my cornerstone in life,

my banner and the pillar of my palace.

My banner and column of my palace.

My banner and the pillar of my palace.

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ مَزَّقْتَ صَدْري

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ مَزَّقْتَ صَدْري

وقَصَمْتَ بالأَزراءِ ظهْرِي

وقَصَمْتَ بالأَزراءِ ظهْرِي

O Death, you have torn my breast apart

O Death, you have torn my chest

Oh Death, you have ripped my breast apart,

and broken my back with calamities.

And broken my back with sorrow.

And broken my back with the weight of woes,

يَا مَوْتُ ماذا تبتغِي منِّي

يَا مَوْتُ ماذا تبتغِي منِّي

وقدْ مزَّقتَ صَدْرِي

وقدْ مزَّقتَ صَدْرِي

O Death, what do you seek from me,

O Death, what do you want of me

Oh Death, what do you seek from me,

when you have already torn my breast apart?

When you have torn my chest?

When you have already torn my chest?

ماذا تودُّ وأَنتَ قَدْ

ماذا تودُّ وأَنتَ قَدْ

سوَّدتَ بالأَحزانِ فِكْرِي

سوَّدتَ بالأَحزانِ فِكْرِي

What do you desire, when you have

What do you wish, when you have

What is your wish, now that you

blackened my thoughts with sorrows,

Blackened my thoughts with sorrows?

Have blackened my thoughts with grief?

وتَرَكْتَني في الكائناتِ

وتَرَكْتَني في الكائناتِ

أَئِنُّ منفرداً بإِصْرِي

أَئِنُّ منفرداً بإِصْرِي

and left me among all beings,

Leaving me in creation

You left me among all living things,

groaning, alone with my burden?

To sigh alone with my burden,

Moaning alone under my heavy burden,

وأَجوبُ صحراءَ الحَيَاةِ

وأَجوبُ صحراءَ الحَيَاةِ

أَقولُ أَيْنَ تُراهُ قبْرِي

أَقولُ أَيْنَ تُراهُ قبْرِي

And I roam the desert of life,

And roam the desert of life

Wandering the vast desert of life,

saying, 'Where do you suppose my grave is?'

Crying "Where can I find my grave?"

Asking: Where, I wonder, lies my grave?

ماذا تَوَدُّ من المُعَذَّبِ

ماذا تَوَدُّ من المُعَذَّبِ

في الوُجُودِ بغيرِ وِزْرِ

في الوُجُودِ بغيرِ وِزْرِ

What do you want from one tormented

What do you want of the tormented

What do you want from one tormented,

in existence without any guilt?

In existence without any excuse?

Living in this world without a sin?

ماذا تودُّ من الشَّقيِّ

ماذا تودُّ من الشَّقيِّ

بعيشِهِ النَّكِدِ المُضِرِّ

بعيشِهِ النَّكِدِ المُضِرِّ

What do you want from one made wretched

What do you want of the wretched one

What do you want from the wretched soul,

by his miserable, harmful life?

In his grievous and ruinous life?

In a life so bitter and harmful?

إنْ كنتَ تطلبُني فهاتِ

إنْ كنتَ تطلبُني فهاتِ

الكأسَ أَشربُها بصَبْرِ

الكأسَ أَشربُها بصَبْرِ

If you are seeking me, then bring

If you seek me then bring the cup

If it is me you seek, then bring

the cup; I shall drink it patiently.

I will drink it with patience,

The cup; I will drink it with patience.

أَو كنتَ ترقُبُني فهاتِ

أَو كنتَ ترقُبُني فهاتِ

السَّهمَ أَرشُقُهُ بنَحْرِي

السَّهمَ أَرشُقُهُ بنَحْرِي

Or if you are watching for me, then bring

Or if you watch for me then bring

Or if you lie in wait, then bring

the arrow; I shall strike it with my throat.

The arrow - I will meet it with my neck.

The arrow; I will plunge it into my throat.

خذني إليكَ فقد تبخَّرَ

خذني إليكَ فقد تبخَّرَ

في فضاءِ الهمِّ عُمْرِي

في فضاءِ الهمِّ عُمْرِي

Take me to you, for it has evaporated—

Take me to you, for my life

Take me to you, for my life has vanished

my life, in the expanse of sorrow.

Has evaporated in the air of worries,

Into the vast void of despair.

وتَهَدَّلَتْ أَغْصانُ أَيَّامي

وتَهَدَّلَتْ أَغْصانُ أَيَّامي

بلا ثَمَرٍ وزَهْرِ

بلا ثَمَرٍ وزَهْرِ

And the branches of my days have drooped,

And the branches of my days

The branches of my days hang low,

without fruit or flowers.

Have dwindled without fruit or flower.

Bare of any fruit or bloom.

وتناثَرَتْ أَوراقُ أَحلامي

وتناثَرَتْ أَوراقُ أَحلامي

على حَسَكِ المَمرِّ

على حَسَكِ المَمرِّ

And the leaves of my dreams have scattered

And the leaves of my dreams

The leaves of my dreams lie scattered,

over the thorns of the path.

Are scattered over the gravel of the road.

Upon the thorns of the path.

خذني إليكَ فقدْ ظمِئْتُ

خذني إليكَ فقدْ ظمِئْتُ

لكأسِكَ الكَدِر الأَمرِّ

لكأسِكَ الكَدِر الأَمرِّ

Take me to you, for I have thirsted

Take me to you, for I have thirsted

Take me to you, for I thirst

for your murky, most bitter cup.

For your bitter and painful cup.

For your murky, most bitter cup.

خذني فقدْ أَصبَحْتُ أَرقُبُ

خذني فقدْ أَصبَحْتُ أَرقُبُ

في فَضَاكَ الجوْنِ فَجْرِي

في فَضَاكَ الجوْنِ فَجْرِي

Take me, for I have come to await

Take me, for I have come to hope

Take me, for I have begun to watch

my dawn within your dark expanse.

For your deathly pre-dawn.

For my dawn in your pitch-black void.

خذني فما أَشقى الَّذي

خذني فما أَشقى الَّذي

يقضي الحَيَاة بمِثْلَ أَمْرِي

يقضي الحَيَاة بمِثْلَ أَمْرِي

Take me, for how wretched is the one

Take me, for none is more miserable than he

Take me, for how wretched is he

who spends his life in a plight like mine!

Who lives a life like mine.

Who endures a life like mine.

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ مزَّقتَ صدْرِي

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ مزَّقتَ صدْرِي

وقصمتَ بالأَزراءِ ظهْرِي

وقصمتَ بالأَزراءِ ظهْرِي

O Death, you have torn my breast apart

O Death, you have torn my chest

Oh Death, you have ripped my breast apart,

and broken my back with calamities.

And broken my back with sorrow.

And broken my back with the weight of woes,

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ شاعَ الفؤادُ

يَا مَوْتُ قَدْ شاعَ الفؤادُ

وأقفرتْ عَرَصَاتُ صدْرِي

وأقفرتْ عَرَصَاتُ صدْرِي

O Death, my heart has dispersed,

O Death, my heart lies ravaged

Oh Death, my heart is laid to waste,

and the courtyards of my breast have grown desolate.

And desolate are the plains of my chest,

And the courtyards of my chest are barren.

وغَدَوْتُ أَمشي مُطْرِقاً مِنْ

وغَدَوْتُ أَمشي مُطْرِقاً مِنْ

طُول مَا أَثْقَلْتَ فِكْرِي

طُول مَا أَثْقَلْتَ فِكْرِي

And I have come to walk with my head bowed, because of

So I walk with downcast eyes

I walk with my head bowed low,

how long you have burdened my thoughts.

From the weight with which you have burdened my thoughts.

From how long you have burdened my mind.

يَا مَوْتُ نفسي ملَّتِ الدُّنيا

يَا مَوْتُ نفسي ملَّتِ الدُّنيا

فهلْ لم يأْتِ دوْرِي

فهلْ لم يأْتِ دوْرِي

O Death, my soul has wearied of this world;

O Death, my soul is tired of life

Oh Death, my soul has wearied of this world,

so has my turn not yet come?

So has not my time come?

Has my turn not finally come?