ياO سَيدchief الوُزَراءِthe ministers دَعوةa plea مقعدa crippled man
يا سَيد الوُزَراءِ دَعوة مقعد
مَحَتeffaced الحَوادثthe calamities رَسمَهُhis traces فَعَسىso perhaps عَسىperhaps
مَحَت الحَوادث رَسمَهُ فَعَسى عَسى
O chief of ministers, a crippled man's plea:
O Minister of Ministers, a petition from one laid low,
Calamities have effaced his traces—so perhaps, perhaps.
The turns of fate have erased his trace, so perhaps, just perhaps,
فَاِنُظُرso look إِلَيهِat him بِرَأفةwith compassion بَلnay رَحمَةmercy
فَاِنُظُر إِلَيهِ بِرَأفة بَل رَحمَة
تَكفيهِis enough for him مِنof جَرعdraughts الأَساياthe sorrows ماwhat اِحتَسىhe has drunk
تَكفيهِ مِن جَرع الأَسايا ما اِحتَسى
Look upon him with compassion—nay, mercy.
Look upon him with kindness, nay with mercy,
What he has drunk of sorrow's draughts is enough for him.
That will suffice him of life's bitter cups, what he has tasted,
قَدindeed كانَhe was سحبانSahban الزَمانthe age فَضيلةin excellence
قَد كانَ سحبان الزَمان فَضيلة
قَطعتwas cut off علوفتهُhis stipend فَأَصبَحso he became أَخرَساmute
قَطعت علوفتهُ فَأَصبَح أَخرَسا
He was indeed the Sahban of his age in excellence;
He was once clouds of time, excelling,
His stipend was cut off, so he became mute.
His livelihood cut off, thus rendered mute.