عَرَفتُI recognized عَرفَthe scent الصَباthe east wind إِذwhen هَبَّblew عاطِرُهُits fragrant breath
عَرَفتُ عَرفَ الصَبا إِذ هَبَّ عاطِرُهُ
مِنfrom أُفقِthe horizon مَنthe one whom أَناI فيin قَلبيmy heart أُشاطِرُهُI share with him
مِن أُفقِ مَن أَنا في قَلبي أُشاطِرُهُ
I recognized the scent of the east wind when its fragrant breath blew,
From the horizon of one with whom I share my heart.
أَرادَhe wished تَجديدrenewing ذِكراهُremembrance of him عَلىdespite شَحَطٍdistance
أَرادَ تَجديد ذِكراهُ عَلى شَحَطٍ
وَماand did not تَيَقَّنَknow for certain أَنّيthat I الدَهرَfor all time ذاكِرُهُremembering him
وَما تَيَقَّنَ أَنّي الدَهرَ ذاكِرُهُ
He wished to renew my remembrance of him, despite the distance,
Yet did not know for certain that I remember him always.
يَنأىgrows distant المَزارُthe place of visitation بِهِwith him وَالدارُand the dwelling دانيَةٌnear
يَنأى المَزارُ بِهِ وَالدارُ دانيَةٌ
ياO حَبَّذاhow welcome الفالُthe good omen لَوif only صَحَّتproved true زَواجِرُهُits auguries
يا حَبَّذا الفالُ لَو صَحَّت زَواجِرُهُ
His place of visitation lies far off, though his dwelling is near.
Ah, how welcome the omen, if only its auguries proved true!
ذُخريmy treasure أَباAbu (father of) الجَيشِal-Jaysh (the army) هَلwill ...? يُقضىbe decreed اللِقاءُthe meeting لَناfor us
ذُخري أَبا الجَيشِ هَل يُقضى اللِقاءُ لَنا
فَيَشتَفيso it may find healing مِنكَfrom you جَفنٌan eyelid أَنتَyou ناظِرُهُits pupil
فَيَشتَفي مِنكَ جَفنٌ أَنتَ ناظِرُهُ
My treasure, Abu al-Jaysh, will a meeting be decreed for us,
So that an eye whose pupil you are may find healing through you?
قُصارُهُhis utmost limit قَيصَرٌCaesar إِنif قامَhe rose مُفتَخِراًboasting
قُصارُهُ قَيصَرٌ إِن قامَ مُفتَخِراً
لِلَّهِto God أَوَّلُهُhis beginning مَجدٌglory وَآخِرُهُand his end
لِلَّهِ أَوَّلُهُ مَجدٌ وَآخِرُهُ
Caesar is his utmost claim, should he rise in pride;
God be praised—his beginning and his end are glory.