بِأبيmay my father be his ransom الزائرُthe visitor الذيwho ملأَfilled اللحfirst fragment of ‘the gaze’
بِأبي الزائرُ الذي ملأَ اللح
ظfinal fragment of ‘the gaze’ بهاءًwith splendor وكلَّand every قلبheart سروراwith joy
ظ بهاءً وكلَّ قلب سرورا
My father be his ransom—the visitor who filled the gaze
with splendor, and every heart with joy.
خِلْتُهI thought him البدرَthe full moon مقبلاًapproaching وقديماًand long ago
خِلْتُه البدرَ مقبلاً وقديماً
كانwere آباؤهhis forefathers الكرامthe noble بدوراfull moons
كان آباؤه الكرام بدورا
I took him for the full moon approaching; and long ago
his noble forefathers were full moons.
زادincreased داريmy home أنساًin cheer فياso, oh ليتif only أنيthat I
زاد داري أنساً فيا ليت أني
كلَّevery يومday بهby him أروحI reach evening مَزُوراvisited
كلَّ يوم به أروح مَزُورا
He brought more cheer to my home—oh, would that I
might end each day having been visited by him.