وسابحٍ لاعبٍ في بحره مَرَحاً

وسابحٍ لاعبٍ في بحره مَرَحاً

تُشيرُ كفّاهُ تعويذاً من الغَرَقِ

تُشيرُ كفّاهُ تعويذاً من الغَرَقِ

And a swimmer, playing merrily in his sea,

A swimmer playing joyfully in his sea

His two palms gesture to ward off drowning.

His hands gesture a talisman against drowning

يدعو ولم يكُ مضطرّاً خُذوا بيدي

يدعو ولم يكُ مضطرّاً خُذوا بيدي

وعنده الفرق بين الأمْنِ والفَرَقِ

وعنده الفرق بين الأمْنِ والفَرَقِ

He calls, though in no distress, “Take my hand!”

He calls out, though not compelled, “Take my hand!”

And he knows the difference between safety and fear.

He knows the difference between safety and danger

فَإن بَكَيتُ فإنّي قد ذَكَرْتُ به

فَإن بَكَيتُ فإنّي قد ذَكَرْتُ به

مَن جُرِّعَتْ مِنهُ كأسُ الموتِ بالشرَقِ

مَن جُرِّعَتْ مِنهُ كأسُ الموتِ بالشرَقِ

So if I weep, it is because through him I have remembered

If I weep, it is because I recall the one

One made to drink death’s cup from it, choking.

Who drank the cup of death in the East

رُدّتْ على البحرِ مِن كفَّيَّ جوهرَةٌ

رُدّتْ على البحرِ مِن كفَّيَّ جوهرَةٌ

ثُمَّ انْقلَبْتُ بِقَلبٍ دائِمِ الحُرَقِ

ثُمَّ انْقلَبْتُ بِقَلبٍ دائِمِ الحُرَقِ

A jewel was returned to the sea from my two palms,

I returned a pearl to the sea from my palm

Then I returned with a heart forever burning with grief.

Then turned back with a heart ever burning