يقولونthey say إِنthat المَدَّthe flood tide فيin أثَرِthe wake of الجَزْرِthe ebb
يقولون إِن المَدَّ في أثَرِ الجَزْرِ
لِنُورِowing to the light of بَدْرِthe full moon of العصرِthe age فيon ساحلِthe shore of البَحْرِthe sea
لِنُورِ بَدْرِ العصرِ في ساحلِ البَحْرِ
They say the flood tide follows the ebb,
They say the tide follows the ebb,
owing to the light of the age’s full moon on the seashore.
Like the moon's glow along the seashore.
فماthen what بَالُthe matter with بَحْرِthe sea of الدَّمْعِtears يزْدَادُincreases مَدُّهُits flood tide
فما بَالُ بَحْرِ الدَّمْعِ يزْدَادُ مَدُّهُ
إذاwhen غابvanishes بَدْرُthe full moon of الحُسْنِbeauty فيin ظُلْمةِthe darkness of الهَجْرِestrangement
إذا غاب بَدْرُ الحُسْنِ في ظُلْمةِ الهَجْرِ
Why, then, does the tide of the sea of tears rise
Why then does the sea of tears rise,
when beauty’s full moon vanishes in the darkness of estrangement?
When the moon of beauty sets in the darkness of estrangement?