رَأَيْتُكَ لَمّا شِمْتُ بَرْقَكَ خُلَّباً

رَأَيْتُكَ لَمّا شِمْتُ بَرْقَكَ خُلَّباً

وَما أَرَبِي في عارِضٍ لَيْسَ يُمْطِرُ

وَما أَرَبِي في عارِضٍ لَيْسَ يُمْطِرُ

When I watched your lightning, I found you all flash and no rain;

I saw you when I sensed your flashing lightning

and what need have I for a cloud that brings no rain?

Yet I do not see in the horizon any rain clouds

فَأَخْطَأَنِي مِنْكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْتَجِي

فَأَخْطَأَنِي مِنْكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَرْتَجِي

وَأَدْرَكَنِي مِنْكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَحْذَرُ

وَأَدْرَكَنِي مِنْكَ الَّذِي كُنْتُ أَحْذَرُ

So what I had hoped for from you passed me by,

Your rejection disappointed my expectations

and what I had feared from you overtook me.

And your acceptance brought what I feared

وَما ذاكَ عَنْ عُذْرٍ فأَسْلُوهُ مَطْلَباً

وَما ذاكَ عَنْ عُذْرٍ فأَسْلُوهُ مَطْلَباً

تَعَذَّرَ لَكِنْ حَظِّيَ الْمُتَعَذِّرُ

تَعَذَّرَ لَكِنْ حَظِّيَ الْمُتَعَذِّرُ

Nor was this due to an excuse that would let me relinquish a goal

Do not make excuses, though asked

that proved unattainable; rather, it is my fortune that is elusive.

My fate is that which makes excuses

وَكَمْ مانِعٍ رِفْداً وَما كانَ مانِعاً

وَكَمْ مانِعٍ رِفْداً وَما كانَ مانِعاً

وَلكنْ أَبى ذاكَ الْقَضاءُ الْمُقَدَّرُ

وَلكنْ أَبى ذاكَ الْقَضاءُ الْمُقَدَّرُ

And many a man withholds bounty, though he is no miser;

How many obstacles intervened, yet were no obstacles

but preordained fate refused it.

But that was the predetermined decree

وَقَدْ كانَ فِيما بَيْنَنا مِنْ مَوَدَّةٍ

وَقَدْ كانَ فِيما بَيْنَنا مِنْ مَوَدَّةٍ

وَمَعْرِفَةٍ مَعْرُوفُها لَيْسَ يُنْكَرُ

وَمَعْرِفَةٍ مَعْرُوفُها لَيْسَ يُنْكَرُ

And in the affection that lay between us,

There was affection between us

and acquaintance whose kindness cannot be denied,

Well known, not deniable

مِنَ الْحَقِّ ما يَقْضِي عَلَيْكَ بِأَنْ أُرى

مِنَ الْحَقِّ ما يَقْضِي عَلَيْكَ بِأَنْ أُرى

لَدَيْكَ وَحَظِّي مِنْ نَوالِكَ أَوْفَرُ

لَدَيْكَ وَحَظِّي مِنْ نَوالِكَ أَوْفَرُ

was a rightful claim obliging you to let me be seen

Honesty decrees that I see with you

in your presence, with a greater share of your bounty.

My share of your gifts more abundant

وَما هِيَ إِلاّ حُرْمَةٌ لُوْ رَعَيْتَها

وَما هِيَ إِلاّ حُرْمَةٌ لُوْ رَعَيْتَها

رَعَيْتَ فَتىً عَنْ شُكْرِها لا يُقَصِّرُ

رَعَيْتَ فَتىً عَنْ شُكْرِها لا يُقَصِّرُ

And it is only a claim to respect; if you honored it,

It is but a sanctity, if you observed it

you would honor a young man who never falls short in gratitude for it,

You would have gratified a man who does not fail to thank

كَرِيماً مَتى عاطَيْتَهُ كَأْسَ عِشْرَةٍ

كَرِيماً مَتى عاطَيْتَهُ كَأْسَ عِشْرَةٍ

تَعَلَّمْتَ مِنْ أَخْلاقِهِ كَيْفَ يُشْكَرُ

تَعَلَّمْتَ مِنْ أَخْلاقِهِ كَيْفَ يُشْكَرُ

a noble man: whenever you share a cup of companionship with him,

A noble man, if you gave him a drink

you learn from his character how one is thanked.

Would teach you his qualities of gratitude