قالَ زَمانُ الناسِ في صَفوِهِ

قالَ زَمانُ الناسِ في صَفوِهِ

وَرَبُّهُ سَلّاكَ أَو هَيِّما

وَرَبُّهُ سَلّاكَ أَو هَيِّما

Humankind's time spoke in its serenity—

The people's time said in its prime,

and its Lord consoled you or drove you mad with love:

And its Lord guided you, hither or thither,

كَم غادَةٍ لي أَيَّما غادَةٍ

كَم غادَةٍ لي أَيَّما غادَةٍ

غادَرَتها مِن بَعلِها أَيِّما

غادَرَتها مِن بَعلِها أَيِّما

How many a graceful maiden of mine—what a maiden!—

How many a fair one, O fair one,

I left bereft of her husband.

Left her spouse, O which fair one,

كانَت نَظيرَ الشَمسِ في خِدرِها

كانَت نَظيرَ الشَمسِ في خِدرِها

وَغُيِّبَت عَنهُ فَقَد غَيَّما

وَغُيِّبَت عَنهُ فَقَد غَيَّما

She was the sun's equal in her secluded chamber,

She was like the sun in its niche,

and she was hidden from it, so it grew overcast.

Then was hidden from him, so he gloomed,

لا تَحمِلُ المَرأَةُ عِلماً بِأَنَّ الحُس

لا تَحمِلُ المَرأَةُ عِلماً بِأَنَّ الحُس

نَ في مِرآتِها دَيَّما

نَ في مِرآتِها دَيَّما

A woman has no certainty that beau-

A woman bears no knowledge that beauty

ty in her mirror will endure.

In her mirror will gloom,

إِن خَيَّمَت أَو ظَعَنَت لِلسُرى

إِن خَيَّمَت أَو ظَعَنَت لِلسُرى

فَهوَ عَلى أَسرارِها خَيَّما

فَهوَ عَلى أَسرارِها خَيَّما

Whether she camps or departs to journey by night,

If she becomes clouded or mule-like to destiny,

it has pitched its tent over her secrets.

It looms o’er her secrets, it gloomed,

تَرائِبٌ نَعَّمَها قَيِّمٌ

تَرائِبٌ نَعَّمَها قَيِّمٌ

فَصَيَّرَ التُربَ لَها قَيِّما

فَصَيَّرَ التُربَ لَها قَيِّما

Breastbones a guardian had pampered—

She was graced by a guardian sublime,

then the dust was made their guardian.

Who made the earth her tomb, sublime.