فقلتُ على مَن رنةُ النوح والبكا

فقلتُ على مَن رنةُ النوح والبكا

فقالت على من لا ترى الدهرَ مثله

فقالت على من لا ترى الدهرَ مثله

So I said: For whom is the cry of lamentation and weeping?

I asked, for whom are these wails and tears?

She said: For one whose like you will never see in all time.

She said, for one whom time will not replace.

أليس أبي ذلك الذي تعهدونه

أليس أبي ذلك الذي تعهدونه

طوت نوبُ الأيام عنِّي ظلَّه

طوت نوبُ الأيام عنِّي ظلَّه

Is that not my father, the one you know?

Is he not my father, whom you disparage?

The days’ calamities have folded his shade away from me.

Though days have shrouded me, his shade remains.

فقلتُ وعندي من فؤادي بقيَّة

فقلتُ وعندي من فؤادي بقيَّة

خذي يا يد الأحزان قلبي كلّه

خذي يا يد الأحزان قلبي كلّه

So I said, with a remnant of my heart still left to me:

I said, my heart still has some remnants;

Take, O hand of sorrows, my whole heart.

Take them, O hand of sorrows, take my heart.