ما المنازل والمرابع لا تعي

ما المنازل والمرابع لا تعي

عني وظني أنها لم تسمع

عني وظني أنها لم تسمع

Why do the dwellings and spring camps not heed

The dwellings and resting places do not know me,

Me? I think they have not heard.

Nor do they think that they have heard my voice.

خرست فصمت بل تفانت بل عفت

خرست فصمت بل تفانت بل عفت

وسفت عليها كل ريح زعزع

وسفت عليها كل ريح زعزع

They fell mute, then deaf—rather, they perished; rather, were effaced.

They have become mute and silent, rather devoted and chaste,

And every fierce wind blew dust over them.

And every restless wind has blown over them.

وتنكرت أعلامها وعلومها

وتنكرت أعلامها وعلومها

ورسومها فكأنها لم تربع

ورسومها فكأنها لم تربع

And their landmarks and what was known of them grew unfamiliar,

Their signs and knowledge have become strange,

And their traces too—so it is as though they had never been inhabited.

As if they had never been inhabited.

وكأنه ما كان فيها ساكن

وكأنه ما كان فيها ساكن

أو مؤنس أو من يجيب إذا دعى

أو مؤنس أو من يجيب إذا دعى

And as though there had never been a dweller in them,

It is as if no one had ever lived there,

Or a companion, or anyone to answer when called.

Or kept company there, or would answer if called.