بعاديmy distance كانwas عذريmy excuse حينwhen أشكوI complain
بعادي كان عذري حين أشكو
فلاfor ... not تدريyou know وقدthough already أصبحتyou have become تدريyou know
فلا تدري وقد أصبحت تدري
My distance was my excuse when I complained:
for you did not know—but now you do.
فلمyet did not أرI see نجدةhelp كمhow often تدعيهاyou claim it
فلم أر نجدة كم تدعيها
ولوand if أنجدتنيyou helped me لربحتyou would have earned شكريmy thanks
ولو أنجدتني لربحت شكري
Yet I saw no help, though you so often claim to offer it;
and had you helped me, you would have earned my thanks.
فليتكso if only you لمdid not تقيدنيyou bind me بوعدwith a promise
فليتك لم تقيدني بوعد
يضلُّmisleads وليتنيand if only I أخفيتI had hidden أمريmy plight
يضلُّ وليتني أخفيت أمري
If only, then, you had not bound me with a promise
that misleads—and if only I had hidden my plight.