إلىto اللهGod أشكوI complain روعتيmy dismay لمنازلover dwellings
إلى الله أشكو روعتي لمنازل
خلتlay empty وجوىand burning grief قلبيmy heart لأهلfor the people of المنازلthe dwellings
خلت وجوى قلبي لأهل المنازل
To God I lament my anguish over dwellings
To God I complain of my dismay at dwellings
left empty, and my heart’s searing grief for their people.
left empty, and my heart's anguish for the people of those dwellings.
سيوفيmy swords إذاwhen ماever (emphasis) نازلتنيassailed me ملمةa calamity
سيوفي إذا ما نازلتني ملمة
حصونيmy fortresses إذاwhen خفتI feared الردىdeath ومعاقليand my strongholds
حصوني إذا خفت الردى ومعاقلي
They were my swords whenever calamity assailed me,
My swords whenever a calamity assailed me,
my fortresses when I feared death, and my strongholds.
my fortresses when I feared death, and my strongholds.
مضواthey passed on سلفاas forerunners قبليbefore me فلمand did not أحظI gain بعدهمafter them
مضوا سلفا قبلي فلم أحظ بعدهم
منfrom العيشlife والعمرand the lifespan الطويلlong بطائلany benefit
من العيش والعمر الطويل بطائل
They passed on ahead of me, and after them I have found
They passed on before me; after them I have gained nothing
nothing worthwhile in life or in a long span of years.
of worth from life and long years.
