عَشيَّةَ ما لي حيلَةٌ غَيرَ أَنَّني

عَشيَّةَ ما لي حيلَةٌ غَيرَ أَنَّني

بِلَفظِ الحَصا وَالخَطِّ في الدارِ مولَعُ

بِلَفظِ الحَصا وَالخَطِّ في الدارِ مولَعُ

At evening I have no recourse, save that I

In the evening I have no recourse but to

am engrossed in tossing pebbles and tracing lines in the dwelling.

indulge in scribbling and erasing in the house

أَخُطُّ وَأَمحو كُلَّ ما قَد خَطَطتُهُ

أَخُطُّ وَأَمحو كُلَّ ما قَد خَطَطتُهُ

بِدَمعِيَ وَالغِربانُ حَولِيَ وُقَّعُ

بِدَمعِيَ وَالغِربانُ حَولِيَ وُقَّعُ

I trace and erase all that I have traced

I write and erase all I have scribbled

with my tears, while the crows are perched around me.

with my tears while ravens gather around me