لَمّاwhen قرعَstruck السمَعthe ear غِناءُthe song of الشاديthe singer
لَمّا قرعَ السمَع غِناءُ الشادي
وارتجَّand reverberated بِصَوتِهِwith his voice فَضاءُthe expanse of الواديthe valley
وارتجَّ بِصَوتِهِ فَضاءُ الوادي
When the singer’s song struck my ear,
And the valley’s expanse resounded with his voice,
أَصغَيتُI listened attentively لَهُto him فَطابَso grew sweet وَقتيmy time فَعَداthen strayed
أَصغَيتُ لَهُ فَطابَ وَقتي فَعَدا
عَنfrom لحنthe melody of سماعهhis music حِداءُthe chant of الحاديthe camel-driver
عَن لحن سماعه حِداءُ الحادي
I listened to him, and my time grew sweet; then strayed
From his music’s melody the camel-driver’s chant.