أعَينَىَّ ما لِى لاَ أَبِيتُ ببَلدَةٍ

أعَينَىَّ ما لِى لاَ أَبِيتُ ببَلدَةٍ

مِنَ الأَرضِ إِلاَّ كانَ دَمعِى قِرَاكما

مِنَ الأَرضِ إِلاَّ كانَ دَمعِى قِرَاكما

O my eyes, why do I never pass a night in any town

My eyes, why do I not spend the night in a town

on earth without my tears serving as fare for you both?

Of the land except that my tears were your watering places

أعَينَىَّ أَغنَى أُمَّ ذِى الوَدعِ عنكما

أعَينَىَّ أَغنَى أُمَّ ذِى الوَدعِ عنكما

بَنُونَ وَمَالٌ فانظُرا مَا غِناكما

بَنُونَ وَمَالٌ فانظُرا مَا غِناكما

O my eyes, Umm Dhi al-Wadʿ has been freed of need for you

My eyes, the most affluent mother of the one bidding farewell wept for you

by sons and wealth; consider what would suffice you both.

Sons and wealth, so look what availed you

أَلاَ قَد أَرَى وَاللهِ اَن قَد قَذِيتُما

أَلاَ قَد أَرَى وَاللهِ اَن قَد قَذِيتُما

بِمَن لاَ يُبالِى أَن يَطُولَ قَذَاكما

بِمَن لاَ يُبالِى أَن يَطُولَ قَذَاكما

Ah, I see, by God, that you have both been afflicted with grit

Behold, I swear by God, I have been hurt

by one who cares not how long that grit troubles you.

By one who does not care if your hurting is prolonged

أَعَينَىَّ مَهلاً أَجمِلا الصَّبرَ تَحظَيا

أَعَينَىَّ مَهلاً أَجمِلا الصَّبرَ تَحظَيا

فَقَد خِفتُ مِن طُولِ البُكاءِ عَماكما

فَقَد خِفتُ مِن طُولِ البُكاءِ عَماكما

O my eyes, gently now; show gracious patience, that you may fare well,

My eyes, wait, let us beautify patience to gain favor

for I have feared that prolonged weeping might blind you both.

For I feared from prolonged weeping you would go blind