وَكَّلتِ الكِندِيَّ مَولاتُنا

وَكَّلتِ الكِندِيَّ مَولاتُنا

فَضَلَّتِ القَصدَ وَساءَت سَبيل

فَضَلَّتِ القَصدَ وَساءَت سَبيل

Our lady appointed al-Kindi as her agent.

Our patroness assigned the negro

So she missed the right course and took an evil path.

But he strayed from the right path

فَقُل لَهُ كفَّ وَلا نَأتَلي

فَقُل لَهُ كفَّ وَلا نَأتَلي

فَعمرُ أَيّامِكَ فيها قَليل

فَعمرُ أَيّامِكَ فيها قَليل

So tell him, 'Desist!'—and we shall spare no effort.

So say to him, desist! Lest we discard you

For the span of your days with her is short.

For your days with us are few

وَقَد كَفيتَ الدَهرَ في صَرفِهِ

وَقَد كَفيتَ الدَهرَ في صَرفِهِ

فَحَسبُها أَنتَ وَبِئسَ الوَكيل

فَحَسبُها أَنتَ وَبِئسَ الوَكيل

And you have already spared Time the trouble of its reversals.

You have endured time's vicissitudes

So you alone suffice her—and what a wretched agent!

So suffice it! You are a miserable deputy