أَرحتُI relieved نَفسيmyself مِنof الإِيناسseeking companionship بِالناسwith people
أَرحتُ نَفسي مِن الإِيناس بِالناس
لَمّاwhen غنيتُI became independent عَنof الأَكياسthe shrewd بالياسِthrough despair
لَمّا غنيتُ عَن الأَكياس بالياسِ
I gave my soul respite from the company of people,
I relieved myself of seeking companionship with people,
when, through despair, I had no more need of the clever.
When despair freed me from dependence on the shrewd.
وَصرتُand I became فيin البَيتthe house وَحديon my own لاnot أَرىI see أَحداًanyone
وَصرتُ في البَيت وَحدي لا أَرى أَحداً
بَناتُdaughters فكريmy thought وَكتبيand my books هُنَّthey (feminine) جُلاسيmy companions
بَناتُ فكري وَكتبي هُنَّ جُلاسي
And I came to be at home alone, seeing no one;
And I came to be alone at home, seeing no one;
the daughters of my thought and my books—they are my companions.
The daughters of my thought and my books are my companions.