تفنىwear out العواصفthe storms والغمامand the clouds خيامناour tents
تفنى العواصف والغمام خيامنا
ومقامناand our stay فيin ظلهنtheir shade شهوراfor months
ومقامنا في ظلهن شهورا
Storms and clouds wear out our tents,
The storms and clouds are gone, our tents as well,
And our stay in their shade lasts months.
For months we dwelled beneath their gentle spell.
ولقلماand seldom يبقىsurvives علىagainst مطرrain السماthe sky
ولقلما يبقى على مطر السما
خامٌunbleached cloth تراهyou see it علىto البلىdecay مقصوراdestined
خامٌ تراه على البلى مقصورا
And seldom does it withstand the rain from the sky—
Scarce can the mark of heaven's rain remain,
Unbleached cloth you see destined for decay.
Faded by time, its trace you seek in vain.