أَضْحَكْتَنِيyou made me laugh مِنْfrom بَعْدِafter مَاthat أَبْكَيْتَنِيyou made me weep
أَضْحَكْتَنِي مِنْ بَعْدِ مَا أَبْكَيْتَنِي
فَبَرَزْتُso I came forth مِنْfrom فَرَحِيmy joy فَمُتُّthen I died مَكانيon the spot
فَبَرَزْتُ مِنْ فَرَحِي فَمُتُّ مَكاني
You made me laugh after you had made me weep.
You made me laugh after you had made me weep.
So, from sheer joy, I stepped forth—and died where I stood.
So I came forth out of my joy, then died on the spot.
وَسَرَرْتَنيand you gladdened me بَعْدَafter الأَسىsorrow فَجَمَعْتَso you brought together لِيfor me
وَسَرَرْتَني بَعْدَ الأَسى فَجَمَعْتَ لِي
عُرْسَwedding السُّرُورِjoy وَمَأْتَمَand the funeral الأَحْزَانِsorrows
عُرْسَ السُّرُورِ وَمَأْتَمَ الأَحْزَانِ
And after grief you gladdened me, bringing together for me
And you gladdened me after sorrow, bringing together for me
the wedding feast of joy and the funeral of sorrows.
The wedding of joy and the funeral of sorrows.
مَاnot إِنْemphasizes negation تَلَجْلَجَfaltered مَنْطِقيmy speech عَنْconcerning حُجَّتِيmy case
مَا إِنْ تَلَجْلَجَ مَنْطِقي عَنْ حُجَّتِي
إِلاexcept وَذِكْرُكَand remembrance of you ترْجُمانُinterpreter لِسانيmy tongue
إِلا وَذِكْرُكَ ترْجُمانُ لِساني
Whenever my speech falters in stating my plea,
Never did my speech falter in presenting my case
your remembrance becomes the interpreter of my tongue.
But remembrance of you was my tongue’s interpreter.
