وميدانand a field تجولroam بهin it خيولsteeds
وميدان تجول به خيول
تقودlead الدارعينthe armored men ولاand not تقادُare led
تقود الدارعين ولا تقادُ
And a field where steeds roam,
A field where horses roam
They lead the armored men, but are not led.
Leading armored men but not led
ركبتI rode بهin it الىtoward اللذاتpleasures طرفاًa steed
ركبت به الى اللذات طرفاً
لهfor it جسمa body وليسbut there is not لهfor it فؤادa heart
له جسم وليس له فؤاد
There I rode a steed toward pleasures,
I have ridden in it to pleasures fleeting
With a body, but no heart.
It has a body but no heart
جرىit ran فظننتso I thought أنthat الأرضthe earth وجهa face
جرى فظننت أن الأرض وجه
ودجلةand the Tigris ناظرan eye وهوand it السوادthe black pupil
ودجلة ناظر وهو السواد
It ran, so I thought the earth a face,
It flowed and I thought the ground was its face
And the Tigris an eye, and it the pupil.
And the Tigris its onlooking eye, such is its darkness