ياO منyou who إذاwhenever فيin كلّevery فنّart إمامa master
يا من إذا في كلّ فنّ إمام
ومالكاand holding منof كلّevery معنىmeaning زمامa rein
ومالكا من كلّ معنى زمام
O you who, whatever the art, are a master,
O you who, whatever the art, are a master,
and hold the reins of every meaning—
and hold the reins of every meaning:
فالعبدُso your servant منكمُfrom you مستعيرseeking to borrow لماthat which
فالعبدُ منكمُ مستعير لما
بيانُهُits explanation يُغنيكspares you عنهُfrom it المقامthe situation
بيانُهُ يُغنيك عنهُ المقام
so the full moons borrow from you that which
your servant seeks to borrow from you something
the occasion spares you from having to explain.
whose explanation the situation makes needless for you.
وهاكand take منfrom أبكارvirgins أفكارهhis thoughts
وهاك من أبكار أفكاره
بكراًa virgin أتتshe came تطلبُshe seeks فضَّbreaking الختامthe seal
بكراً أتت تطلبُ فضَّ الختام
And take, from among the virgin creations of his thought,
And take, from the virgins of his thoughts,
a maiden come seeking to have her seal broken.
a virgin come seeking the breaking of the seal.
