هَاجَكَ البَرقُ اليَمَانِى مَوهِناً

هَاجَكَ البَرقُ اليَمَانِى مَوهِناً

فَلَهُ نَومُكَ تَغميرٌ سُهُد

فَلَهُ نَومُكَ تَغميرٌ سُهُد

The Yemeni lightning stirred you late at night.

The Yemeni lightning attacked you while weakening,

So because of it, your sleep is a sleepless doze.

So your sleep is a flooding deluge.

رَاحَ للعَينِ بأَعلَى رَاحةٍ

رَاحَ للعَينِ بأَعلَى رَاحةٍ

لِجِنابٍ حَبَّذَا ذَاكَ البَلَد

لِجِنابٍ حَبَّذَا ذَاكَ البَلَد

It passed before the eye over the heights of Rāḥah,

It went to the eyes in the highest comfort,

toward Jināb—how lovely is that land!

To a side that wished for that country.

فَشَرَى بَدرٍ فَجنبَى مَرمَرٍ

فَشَرَى بَدرٍ فَجنبَى مَرمَرٍ

ثَمَّ أَدنَى عَهدِ مَن كُنّا نَوَد

ثَمَّ أَدنَى عَهدِ مَن كُنّا نَوَد

Then Sharā of Badr, then the two flanks of Marmar;

So it bought a full moon and then drew near

there was our last meeting with those we loved.

The covenant of those we wished for.

فَالنَّوى هَيهات هَيهَات بِهَا

فَالنَّوى هَيهات هَيهَات بِهَا

آخِرَ الاَيّامِ مَا دَامَ الأَبَد

آخِرَ الاَيّامِ مَا دَامَ الأَبَد

So separation has borne her far, far away,

Alas! The intention - alas! - with it

until the end of days, as long as eternity lasts.

The last of days, as long as eternity lasts,

دَارُ هِندٍ نِيَّةٌ شَطَّت بِهَا

دَارُ هِندٍ نِيَّةٌ شَطَّت بِهَا

آخِرَ الأيّامِ مَا دَامَ الاَبَد

آخِرَ الأيّامِ مَا دَامَ الاَبَد

Hind’s abode—a destination that carried her far away,

The land of India - an intention that sailed with it

until the end of days, as long as eternity lasts.

The last of days, as long as eternity lasts.

دارُ دُنيَا نِيَّةٌ رُدَّت لَنا

دارُ دُنيَا نِيَّةٌ رُدَّت لَنا

هَل لِمَا فَاتَ مِن الدُّنيَا مَرَد

هَل لِمَا فَاتَ مِن الدُّنيَا مَرَد

Dunyā’s abode—a destination restored to us.

The house of life - an intention that returned to us.

Is there any return for what has passed of life?

Is there a going back to what is past of life?

أَم هَلِ القَلبُ الَّذِى يَعتَادُهُ

أَم هَلِ القَلبُ الَّذِى يَعتَادُهُ

خَطَراتُ الذِّكرِ مِنهَا وَالكَمَد

خَطَراتُ الذِّكرِ مِنهَا وَالكَمَد

Or is the heart, which is visited

Or does the heart which gets accustomed to

by fleeting recollections of her and by grief,

The perils of mentioning it and ardour

ذَاهِلٌ يَاساً فَما مِن مَطلَبٍ

ذَاهِلٌ يَاساً فَما مِن مَطلَبٍ

بَعدَ مَا فَاتَ لِمَا كُنتَتَعِد

بَعدَ مَا فَاتَ لِمَا كُنتَتَعِد

dazed with despair? There is no quest

Forget, despairing, so there is no wish

for what you used to promise, once it has passed.

After what is past for what you were hoping for.