قلتُI said لنحويto a grammarian إذاwhen عُرّضاa hint was made
قلتُ لنحوي إذا عُرّضا
لهto him بإعرابِwith an expression of الرضىapproval أعرضاhe turned away
له بإعرابِ الرضى أعرضا
I said to a grammarian who, when a hint was made
I said to my grammarian when he declined
to him through an expression of approval, turned away:
the noun of contentment, turn away, turn away
ياO حيثُwhere لوif أصبحَbecame بابُthe door of الرضىapproval
يا حيثُ لو أصبحَ بابُ الرضى
كيفَhow لماthen ... not كنتُI was كأمسlike yesterday مضىpassed
كيفَ لما كنتُ كأمس مضى
O 'where,' if the door of approval had become
O where now if the door of contentment rose
'how,' I would not have been like yesterday gone by.
How could I be as I was yesterday gone