أيّهاO you الغافِلونَthe heedless عنof سَكرةِstupor الموdeath (continued next line)
أيّها الغافِلونَ عن سَكرةِ المو
تِcompletion of “death” وإذْand when لاnot يسوغُpasses easily فيin الحلقِthe throat رِيقُsaliva
تِ وإذْ لا يسوغُ في الحلقِ رِيقُ
O you heedless of death’s stupor,
O you who are heedless of the intoxication of death
and of the time when no saliva passes through the throat!
And since no saliva can wet the throat
كَمhow long إلىuntil كَمhow long هذاthis التَّشاغُلُdistraction والغَفand heedlessness (continued next line)
كَم إلى كَم هذا التَّشاغُلُ والغَف
لَةُcompletion of “heedlessness” حارَbecame bewildered السّاريthe night traveler وضلَّand was lost الطّريقُthe way
لَةُ حارَ السّاري وضلَّ الطّريقُ
How long, how long this distraction and heedlessness?
How long this preoccupation and neglect?
The night traveler was bewildered, and the way was lost.
The lantern went out and the path was lost
إنّماonly هزَّتِshook الزَّلازلُthe earthquakes هذيthis الthe
إنّما هزَّتِ الزَّلازلُ هذي ال
أرضَearth بالغافلينwith the heedless كيso that يَستَفيقُواthey might awaken
أرضَ بالغافلين كي يَستَفيقُوا
The earthquakes shook this
Verily, earthquakes shake this earth
earth, with the heedless upon it, only so that they might awaken.
Because of the heedless, so they may awaken