نُراعِwe are frightened اِذاwhen الجَنائِزfuneral biers قابَلَتناmeet us
نُراعِ اِذا الجَنائِز قابَلَتنا
وَنَلهوand we make merry حينَwhen تَخفىthey disappear ذاهِباتpassing on
وَنَلهو حينَ تَخفى ذاهِبات
We take fright when funeral biers meet us,
When the processions of the dead meet us,
And we make merry when they pass out of sight,
And pleasures fade when they depart,
كَرَوعَةlike the fright of ثلةa flock of sheep لمغارat the onslaught of سبعa beast of prey
كَرَوعَة ثلة لمغار سبع
فَلماthen, when غابَit disappeared عادَتthey returned راتِعاتgrazing
فَلما غابَ عادَت راتِعات
Like a flock's terror at a predator's onslaught;
Like the roar of a lion from a cave,
Then, when it was gone, they returned to grazing.
When he goes they return doubly darting