ياO ابنَson of مَنone who يَكتُبُhe writes فيupon الأَرthe necks (first word fragment)
يا ابنَ مَن يَكتُبُ في الأَر
قابnecks (remaining word fragment) مِنfrom غَيرِwithout دواةِan inkwell
قاب مِن غَيرِ دواةِ
O son of one who writes upon necks
O son of one who writes on the dunes
O son of him who writes upon
without an inkwell,
Without a pen
the necks without an inkwell,
لَمnot (past negation) يَكُنhe was يَكتُبُwriting فيهاupon them
لَم يَكُن يَكتُبُ فيها
غَيرَother than خَطِّthe strokes of الألِفاتِthe alifs
غَيرَ خَطِّ الألِفاتِ
He never wrote upon them
He would not write on them
He would write nothing upon them
anything but the strokes of alifs.
Except the line of friendships
save the strokes of Alifs.