غزْل الكساء تُرى من النسّاج منْ

غزْل الكساء تُرى من النسّاج منْ

وبأرض عُمَّان تطرّز أو عَدَنْ

وبأرض عُمَّان تطرّز أو عَدَنْ

Who, do you suppose, among the weavers spun the cloak?

Who among the weavers, I wonder, is spinning the cloak?

The cloak's weaving can be seen from the weaver

And was it embroidered in Oman, or Aden?

And is it embroidered in the land of Oman or Aden?

Embroidered in Oman or Yemen's land

ولأي وقتٍ بعد ريحٍ قرَّةٍ

ولأي وقتٍ بعد ريحٍ قرَّةٍ

هبتْ وأمطار ألحتْ يخترن

هبتْ وأمطار ألحتْ يخترن

And for what season—after a biting wind

And for what season, after a bitterly cold wind

And after a pleasant breeze has blown

has blown and relentless rains persisted—do they choose it?

Has blown and rains have persisted, will it be chosen?

With rain urging the choice

هبْهُ الكساء كساء آل محمدٍ

هبْهُ الكساء كساء آل محمدٍ

هل مطلنا هذا الطويل به حسن

هل مطلنا هذا الطويل به حسن

Suppose the cloak were the Cloak of Muhammad’s House:

Suppose the cloak were the cloak of Muhammad's family:

Bestow upon him the cloak, the cloak of Muhammad's family

is our long delay over it at all seemly?

Is keeping us waiting this long for it right?

Have we hoped for this long one for its beauty