بلوت الليالي وابتليت بصرفها

بلوت الليالي وابتليت بصرفها

وقد ذقت حاليها مُذاقة خابر

وقد ذقت حاليها مُذاقة خابر

I have tried the nights and been tried by their vicissitudes,

The nights have passed and I have suffered through them

and have tasted both their states as one well versed.

I have tasted their circumstances, experienced and knowing

فما راق لي فيها حياض جمامها

فما راق لي فيها حياض جمامها

ولا رافني منها رياض ازاهر

ولا رافني منها رياض ازاهر

Their brimming pools held no delight for me,

Yet I found no pleasure in their barren terrain

nor did their gardens of blossoms comfort me.

Nor did their flower gardens comfort me

وما اعتاض فيها من مسيء ومحسن

وما اعتاض فيها من مسيء ومحسن

سوى ذم شاك أو محامد شاكر

سوى ذم شاك أو محامد شاكر

And in them neither wrongdoer nor benefactor has gained

Neither those who wronged me nor those who were good

anything but a complainer’s blame or a grateful person’s praises.

Except for the dispraise of a doubter or the praises of a grateful one