أبدىdisplayed البيانوthe piano بياناeloquence
أبدى البيانو بيانا
وإنand indeed منهfrom it لسحراsurely magic
وإن منه لسحرا
The piano displayed eloquence,
The piano expressed itself
And surely magic comes from it.
Showing its magic
للأصرميto al-Aṣramī المغانيthe dwellings
للأصرمي المغاني
قدindeed ألقتcast السمعhearing قسراforcibly
قد ألقت السمع قسرا
To al-Aṣramī the dwellings
Songs of Asrami
Have lent their ears, compelled.
Forced the ears to listen
أشجىmoved deeply النفوسthe souls إذاwhen ماemphatic particle
أشجى النفوس إذا ما
جرّdrew out المغانيthe melodies وأجرىand set flowing
جرّ المغاني وأجرى
He moved souls whenever
It inspired souls when
He drew out the melodies and set them flowing.
Songs flowed and drifted
لمwhy لاnot يكونbe شجياsoulful
لم لا يكون شجيا
وفيهand in him أحرفletters مصراEgypt (Miṣr)
وفيه أحرف مصرا
Why should he not be soulful,
Why wouldn't it inspire
When his name holds the letters of Miṣr (Egypt)?
With its Egyptian letters