وَلَيسَand he is not بِخَيرٍany better مِنthan رِجالٍmen رُزِئتُهُمI was bereaved of them
وَلَيسَ بِخَيرٍ مِن رِجالٍ رُزِئتُهُم
وَلَكِنَّand yet حِدثانَthe freshness of المُصيبَةِthe calamity أَوجَعُmore painful
وَلَكِنَّ حِدثانَ المُصيبَةِ أَوجَعُ
And he is no better than men I have lost,
but the freshness of calamity is more painful.
وَماand what خَيرُgood عَيشٍa life نِصفُهُhalf of it سِنَةُthe drowsiness of الكَرىsleep
وَما خَيرُ عَيشٍ نِصفُهُ سِنَةُ الكَرى
وَنِصفٌand half بِهِin it يَعثَلُّis ailing (likely intended: يعتلّ) أَوor يَتَوَجَّعُsuffers pain
وَنِصفٌ بِهِ يَعثَلُّ أَو يَتَوَجَّعُ
And what good is a life half spent in drowsy slumber,
and half spent ailing or in pain?