إِذاwhen ماever (emphasis) بَدَتappeared فيناamong us عَطاياهُhis gifts عَقَّبَتcame in succession
إِذا ما بَدَت فينا عَطاياهُ عَقَّبَت
وَكَمand how many a بادِئٍfirst shower لِلمُزنِfrom the rain clouds غَيرَnot مُعَقَّبِfollowed by another
وَكَم بادِئٍ لِلمُزنِ غَيرَ مُعَقَّبِ
Whenever his gifts appear among us, they follow one upon another—
Whenever his gifts appear among us, more follow.
and how many a rain cloud begins to give, yet never follows through!
Yet many a first shower from the rain clouds is followed by no other.
وَلَمّاand not yet يُفَرِّرهُput him to the test تَقَلُّبَthe vicissitudes دَهرِهِof his time
وَلَمّا يُفَرِّرهُ تَقَلُّبَ دَهرِهِ
فَقُلتَso you said لَعَلَّperhaps الدَهرَtime لَمhas not يَتَقَلَّبِchanged
فَقُلتَ لَعَلَّ الدَهرَ لَم يَتَقَلَّبِ
The reversals of his fortune had not yet put him to flight,
And the vicissitudes of his time have not yet put him to the test,
so I said, “Perhaps Fortune has not turned at all.”
so you said, "Perhaps time has not changed."
وَيَدنوand draws near لَهُto him المَطلوبُwhat is sought حَتّىuntil كَأَنَّماas though
وَيَدنو لَهُ المَطلوبُ حَتّى كَأَنَّما
يُواكِبُhe keeps pace with ضَوءَthe light الصُبحِof dawn فيin كُلِّevery مَطلَبِquest
يُواكِبُ ضَوءَ الصُبحِ في كُلِّ مَطلَبِ
What he seeks draws near to him, until it seems
And what he seeks draws near to him, until it is as though
the light of dawn keeps pace with him in every quest.
he keeps pace with the light of dawn in every quest.
