كنّاwe were جميعاًall together والدَّهرُand time يَجْمعُناunites us
كنّا جميعاً والدَّهرُ يَجْمعُنا
مثْلَlike حُروفِthe letters of الجَميعall مُلتصقَهْjoined together
مثْلَ حُروفِ الجَميع مُلتصقَهْ
We were all together, and time united us,
We were all together as time brought us near
like the letters of al-jamīʿ (“all”), joined together.
Like letters of the word inseparable and clear
فاليومَbut today جاءcame الوَداعُfarewell يَجعَلُناmakes us
فاليومَ جاء الوَداعُ يَجعَلُنا
مثْلَlike حُروفِthe letters of الوَداعِfarewell مُفْتَرِقَهseparated
مثْلَ حُروفِ الوَداعِ مُفْتَرِقَه
But today farewell has come to make us
But today farewell has come to make us
like the letters of al-wadāʿ (“farewell”), separated.
Like letters of goodbye, split and bare