أقلّبI turn طرفيmy gaze ثمthen أعملI put to work خاطريmy mind
أقلّب طرفي ثم أعمل خاطري
وأعملand I put to work فكريmy thought طالباseeking سننthe path القصدmoderation
وأعمل فكري طالبا سنن القصد
I turn my gaze, then put my mind to work,
I turn my eyes, then set my mind,
and put my thought to work, seeking the path of moderation.
And set my thoughts seeking wisdom's course,
فلاso neither ماwhat مضىhas passed أشفىhealed فؤاديmy heart ولاnor الذيthat which
فلا ما مضى أشفى فؤادي ولا الذي
يحيlives بعدafter موتيmy death فيin الهوىlove نافعbeneficial بعديafter me
يحي بعد موتي في الهوى نافع بعدي
So neither has the past healed my heart, nor is what
Yet neither what is past makes whole my heart,
lives after my death in love of any use after I am gone.
Nor what may profit after me when love's sweet life is o'er.