يَمامَةٌ كانَت بِأَعلى الشَجَرَه

يَمامَةٌ كانَت بِأَعلى الشَجَرَه

آمِنَةً في عُشِّها مُستَتِرَه

آمِنَةً في عُشِّها مُستَتِرَه

A dove was at the top of the tree,

The dove was at the top of the tree

Safe and hidden in her nest.

Feeling safe in her hidden nest

فَأَقبَلَ الصَيّادُ ذاتَ يَومِ

فَأَقبَلَ الصَيّادُ ذاتَ يَومِ

وَحامَ حَولَ الرَوضِ أَيَّ حَومِ

وَحامَ حَولَ الرَوضِ أَيَّ حَومِ

Then one day the hunter came,

Then came the hunter one day

And circled round and round the garden.

And hovered around the meadow, prowling

فَلَم يَجِد لِلطَيرِ فيهِ ظِلّاً

فَلَم يَجِد لِلطَيرِ فيهِ ظِلّاً

وَهَمَّ بِالرَحيلِ حينَ مَلّا

وَهَمَّ بِالرَحيلِ حينَ مَلّا

But he found no bird's shadow there,

He could not find shade for the bird there

And intended to leave when he grew weary.

So he thought of leaving, tired of searching

فَبَرَزَت مِن عُشِّها الحَمقاءُ

فَبَرَزَت مِن عُشِّها الحَمقاءُ

وَالحُمقُ داءٌ ما لَهُ دَواءُ

وَالحُمقُ داءٌ ما لَهُ دَواءُ

Then the foolish dove emerged from her nest—

But the foolish one came out of her nest

And foolishness is a disease without a cure—

And foolishness is an illness with no cure

تَقولُ جَهلاً بِالَّذي سَيَحدُثُ

تَقولُ جَهلاً بِالَّذي سَيَحدُثُ

يا أَيُّها الإِنسانُ عَمَّ تَبحَثُ

يا أَيُّها الإِنسانُ عَمَّ تَبحَثُ

Saying, unaware of what would happen:

She spoke ignorantly, not knowing what would happen

O human, what are you searching for?

"Oh human, what are you looking for?"

فَاِلتَفَتَ الصَيادُ صَوبَ الصَوتِ

فَاِلتَفَتَ الصَيادُ صَوبَ الصَوتِ

وَنَحوَهُ سَدَّدَ سَهمَ المَوتِ

وَنَحوَهُ سَدَّدَ سَهمَ المَوتِ

Then the hunter turned toward the sound,

So the hunter turned towards the voice

And aimed the arrow of death toward it.

And aimed at her the arrow of death

فَسَقَطَت مِن عَرشِها المَكينِ

فَسَقَطَت مِن عَرشِها المَكينِ

وَوَقَعَت في قَبضَةِ السِكّينِ

وَوَقَعَت في قَبضَةِ السِكّينِ

So she fell from her secure throne,

She fell from her sturdy nest

And landed in the knife's grip,

And landed in the grip of the knife

تَقولُ قَولَ عارِفٍ مُحَقِّق

تَقولُ قَولَ عارِفٍ مُحَقِّق

مَلَكتُ نَفسي لَو مَلَكتُ مَنطِقي

مَلَكتُ نَفسي لَو مَلَكتُ مَنطِقي

Saying, as one who knows for certain:

She says with the wisdom of one certain and realized:

I would have saved my life, had I kept my speech in check.

"I would have possessed myself if I had possessed my tongue."