كانواthey were بعمرat the age of الزهورthe flowers ولاديmy children
كانوا بعمر الزهور ولادي
مشيواthey walked ولونand the color الخطوةthe step عيادْfestivals
مشيوا ولون الخطوة عيادْ
My children were at the age of flowers.
They walked, their steps colored with festivity.
ضحكواthey laughed وغنواand they sang ركضواthey ran وطارواand they flew
ضحكوا وغنوا ركضوا وطاروا
وعودand the stalk النعنعthe mint شدّtightened وتاروits strings
وعود النعنع شدّ وتارو
They laughed and sang, ran and flew.
And the mint stalk tightened its strings.
ابنيmy son وقفhe stood ضحكhe laughed ولوحْand he waved
ابني وقف ضحك ولوحْ
علىon بسمهa smile منfrom شفافيmy lips تمرجحْhe swung
على بسمه من شفافي تمرجحْ
My son stood, laughed, and waved.
He swung on a smile from my lips.
فجأةsuddenly رصاصbullets وغدرand treachery وليلْand night
فجأة رصاص وغدر وليلْ
وجهthe face الغاصبthe usurper نقطdripped ويلْwoe
وجه الغاصب نقط ويلْ
Suddenly: bullets, treachery, and night.
The usurper's face dripped woe.
ركضran الشارعthe street معwith البيوتْthe houses
ركض الشارع مع البيوتْ
ابنيmy son ياO ابنيmy son وصرخةand a scream تموتْdies
ابني يا ابني وصرخة تموتْ
The street ran along with the houses.
My son, oh my son—and a scream dies.
ابنيmy son فوقon الأرضthe ground التمْcurled up
ابني فوق الأرض التمْ
وجرحوand his wound فوقon الشارعthe street دمْblood
وجرحو فوق الشارع دمْ
My son curled up on the ground.
And his wound was blood upon the street.
فردspread out إيديهhis hands ونادىand he called ياO يمهْMother
فرد إيديه ونادى يا يمهْ
حطيput إيديكيyour hands عon قلبيmy heart ياO يمهْMother
حطي إيديكي ع قلبي يا يمهْ
He spread his hands and called, "Oh, Mother!"
Put your hands on my heart, oh Mother.
ليشwhy الدمعthe tears بعينكin your eye يمهْMother
ليش الدمع بعينك يمهْ
رايحI am going ألحقto join خييmy brother ياO يمهْMother
رايح ألحق خيي يا يمهْ
Why the tears in your eye, Mother?
I'm going to join my brother, oh Mother.
ضمhe clasped بقلبوin his heart إيديmy hand ونامْand he slept
ضم بقلبو إيدي ونامْ
وسكتand fell silent القمرthe moon وغمضand closed its eyes نامْslept
وسكت القمر وغمض نامْ
He clasped my hand to his heart and slept.
And the moon fell silent, closed its eyes, and slept.
حبيبيmy beloved ياO قلبيmy heart ياO روحيmy soul ياO يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
حبيبي يا قلبي يا روحي يا يمهْ
نارfire فراقكparting from you واللهby God ياO يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
نار فراقك والله يا يمهْ
My beloved, oh my heart, oh my soul, oh my child.
The fire of parting from you—by God, oh my child!
بوسوkiss him لَخَيكto your brother سلمgive greetings يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
بوسو لَخَيك سلم يمهْ
يمكنperhaps بكرةtomorrow أجيلكI will come to you يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
يمكن بكرة أجيلك يمهْ
Kiss your brother and give him my greetings, my child.
Perhaps tomorrow I'll come to you, my child.
شعبكyour people وأقفstanding صامدsteadfast يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
شعبك وأقف صامد يمهْ
وليلand the night الغاصبthe usurper زايلpassing away يمهْmy child (maternal endearment)
وليل الغاصب زايل يمهْ
Your people stand steadfast, my child.
And the usurper's night is passing, my child.
شعبكyour people ماشيwalking بزفةin the procession عرسكْyour wedding
شعبك ماشي بزفة عرسكْ
وهيand this is زغرودهْa ululation لعرسكfor your wedding يمهْmy child (maternal endearment).
وهي زغرودهْ لعرسك يمهْ.
Your people walk in your wedding procession.
And this is a ululation for your wedding, my child.
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