تاللهBy God ماnot كنتI was رفيقاa companion لهمto them
تالله ما كنت رفيقا لهم
ولاnor دعتنيcalled me للصباto youthful passion داعيهan impulse
ولا دعتني للصبا داعيه
By God, I was no companion of theirs,
Nor did any impulse call me to youthful passion.
وانماand only بالشعرabout poetry ذاكرتهمI conversed with them
وانما بالشعر ذاكرتهم
ومعهمand with them جرتنيdragged me القافيهthe rhyme
ومعهم جرتني القافيه
I merely discussed poetry with them,
And the rhyme dragged me along with them.