لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowing هَلwhether زَمانيmy days
لَيتَ شِعري هَل زَماني
بَعدَafter ذاthis البُخلِstinginess يَجودُbecomes generous
بَعدَ ذا البُخلِ يَجودُ
Would that I knew whether my days
I wish I knew, will my time
will grow generous after this stinginess.
After this stinginess become generous
ماnot أَرىI see الشِدَّةَhardship إِلّاexcept
ما أَرى الشِدَّةَ إِلّا
كُلَّماwhenever مَرَّتit passes تَزيدُit increases
كُلَّما مَرَّت تَزيدُ
I see hardship only
I see no end to hardship
increasing as time goes by.
It only increases as time passes
يَنقَضيpasses يَومٌa day فَيَومٌthen another day
يَنقَضي يَومٌ فَيَومٌ
فيin حَديثٍtalk لاnot يُفيدُis beneficial
في حَديثٍ لا يُفيدُ
One day passes, then another,
One day ends, another arrives
in talk that brings no benefit.
Filled with talk that brings no benefit
فَمَتىso when اليَومُthe day الَّذيon which أَبI at- (word fragment)
فَمَتى اليَومُ الَّذي أَب
لُغُ-tain (word fragment) فيهِin it ماwhat أُريدُI desire
لُغُ فيهِ ما أُريدُ
When, then, will the day come when I
So when will the day come when
attain what I desire?
I attain what I desire