سالَتI asked الشِعرpoetry هلdo …? لَكyou have مِنany صَديقfriend
سالَت الشِعر هل لَك مِن صَديق
وَقَدand already سَكنsettled الدَلنجاويal-Dalanjawi لحدهhis grave
وَقَد سَكن الدَلنجاوي لحده
I asked Poetry, 'Have you any friend,
Poetry asked, “Do you have a friend?”
now that al-Dalanjawi has settled in his grave?'
While Delinjawi dwelled in his grave.
فَقُلتso I said لِمَنto whoever أَرادsought الشِعرpoetry اِقصرdesist
فَقُلت لِمَن أَراد الشِعر اِقصر
فَقَدfor indeed أَرّختI recorded the date ماتdied الشِعرpoetry بَعدَهafter him
فَقَد أَرّخت مات الشِعر بَعدَه
So I said to whoever sought poetry, 'Desist!'
I said, “For those who want poetry, stop!
For I composed this chronogram: 'Poetry died after him.'
For I have recorded that poetry died after him.”