خَفَقَتfluttered لناfor us شَمسانِtwo suns مَنwho
خَفَقَت لنا شَمسانِ مَن
لألائِهاits radiance يُطالِبناdemands from us بِدَينfor a debt
لألائِها يُطالِبنا بِدَين
Two suns flashed before us, out of
Two suns fluttered for us, whose
her radiance, claiming a debt from us.
radiance demands a debt of us,
فيin لَيلةٍa night بَدَأَbegan السُروthe joy (first part)
في لَيلةٍ بَدَأَ السُرو
رُcompletion of 'joy' بهاin it يُطالِبناdemands from us بِدَينfor a debt
رُ بها يُطالِبنا بِدَين
On a night, joy began
on a night when joy began
through her to claim a debt from us.
to demand a debt of us.
وَمَضىand went on طَليقَunbound الراحِthe palm مَنone who
وَمَضى طَليقَ الراحِ مَن
قدalready كانَwas مَغلولَshackled اليَدَينthe two hands
قد كانَ مَغلولَ اليَدَين
And away went, his palm now unfettered, the one
And off went, with palm unbound, one who
whose two hands had once been shackled.
had been shackled at both hands.
أناI الذيthe one who لوif دَرىknew زَمانيmy time
أنا الذي لو دَرى زَماني
قَدرِيَmy worth ماnot كانwas غيرَother than عَبدِيmy slave
قَدرِيَ ما كان غيرَ عَبدِي
I am he—if Time but knew
I am the one: if my time knew
my worth, it would be none but my slave;
my worth, it would be nothing but my slave.
وَلمand did not يَزلcease واقِفاًstanding ببابيat my door
وَلم يَزل واقِفاً ببابي
وَلمand did not يُصَرِّفdirect affairs خلافَcontrary to قَصديmy intent
وَلم يُصَرِّف خلافَ قَصدي
it would remain standing at my door
And it would remain standing at my door,
and never turn against my will.
and would not direct affairs against my intent.
