أَلَيسَIs it not مِنَamong العَجائِبِthe wonders أَنَّthat مِثليone like me
أَلَيسَ مِنَ العَجائِبِ أَنَّ مِثلي
يُقامُis made to rise لِأَحمَدَfor Ahmad بنِson of أَبيAbi (father of) العَلاءِal-Ala
يُقامُ لِأَحمَدَ بنِ أَبي العَلاءِ
Is it not wondrous that one such as I
Is it not a wonder that one like me
should, through his glory, be accorded honor among the people of eminence?
should be made to rise for Ahmad ibn Abi al-Ala?
وَليand I have نَفسٌa soul أَبَتrefused إِلّاanything but اِرتِفاعاًelevation
وَلي نَفسٌ أَبَت إِلّا اِرتِفاعاً
فَأَضحَتso it became كَالسَماءِlike the sky عَلىabove السَماءِthe sky
فَأَضحَت كَالسَماءِ عَلى السَماءِ
I have a soul that refused all but ascent;
And I have a soul that would accept nothing but elevation,
and, sky-like, it aspired above the sky.
so it became like a sky above the sky.
لَقَدindeed غَضِبَgrew angry الزَمانُTime عَلىwith أُناسٍsome people
لَقَد غَضِبَ الزَمانُ عَلى أُناسٍ
فأَبلاهُمand so afflicted them بِأَولادِwith children of الزِناءِfornication
فأَبلاهُم بِأَولادِ الزِناءِ
Time has indeed grown angry with certain people
Time has indeed grown angry with some people,
and afflicted them with children born of fornication.
and so afflicted them with the children of fornication.
