رأتنيshe saw me ثرياThurayya شاحبpale اللونthe complexion ناحلاًgaunt
رأتني ثريا شاحب اللون ناحلاً
وقدand indeed بتI had become منbecause of سقميmy sickness ألازمI keep to مضجعيmy bed
وقد بت من سقمي ألازم مضجعي
Thurayya saw me, pale of complexion and gaunt,
She saw me pale and thin, confined to my bed,
And my sickness had left me confined to my bed.
Wasted away by persistent illness.
فظنتso she thought بيin me الداءthe illness الوبيلgrave واعرضتand she turned away
فظنت بي الداء الوبيل واعرضت
مخافةfor fear انthat تبلىshe might be afflicted بدائيwith my disease المروعdreadful
مخافة ان تبلى بدائي المروع
So she thought I had a grave illness and turned away,
She thought I had a terrible disease, and shunned me,
Fearing she might be afflicted with my dreadful disease.
Fearing she might be tainted by my horrors.
وصارتand she began إذاwhenever ماemphatic particle اقبلتshe came لعيادتيto visit me when ill
وصارت إذا ما اقبلت لعيادتي
تسائلshe would ask عنيabout me خلسةًsecretly اهلthe people of مربعيmy dwelling
تسائل عني خلسةً اهل مربعي
And whenever she came to visit me in my sickness,
When she came to visit, she would ask after me
She would secretly ask those in my dwelling about me.
Secretly from my room's occupants.
وياand oh عجبيmy amazement والداءُand the illness منهاfrom her سرىcrept إلىinto
ويا عجبي والداءُ منها سرى إلى
فؤاديmy heart يجريit flows فيin عروقيmy veins واضلعيand my ribs
فؤادي يجري في عروقي واضلعي
And how I marvel! The illness had crept from her into
How strange that the sickness spread from her
My heart, coursing through my veins and ribs.
To my heart, flowing through my veins and ribs!
تناولتهI took it منfrom ناهديهاher two full breasts وثغرهاand her mouth
تناولته من ناهديها وثغرها
تناولتهI took it بالمرشفwith the sipping lips المترضعsuckling
تناولته بالمرشف المترضع
I took it from her full breasts and her mouth;
I got it from her cheeks and lips -
I took it with my sipping, suckling lips.
I got it from her sweet suckling kiss.
وماand not أناI بالشاكيone who complains إلىto الناسpeople ماwhat بهafflicts him
وما أنا بالشاكي إلى الناس ما به
ولاnor أناI بالباكيone who weeps ولاnor المتوجعone who moans in pain
ولا أنا بالباكي ولا المتوجع
And I am not one who complains to people of what ails him,
I do not complain to people of my condition,
Nor am I one to weep or moan in pain.
Nor do I weep or groan in pain.
ولكنbut عينيmy eye تبصرsees الموتdeath زاحفاًcreeping
ولكن عيني تبصر الموت زاحفاً
علىupon كبدٍa liver مرضىailing وقلبٍand a heart مصدعshattered
على كبدٍ مرضى وقلبٍ مصدع
Yet my eye sees death creeping
But my eyes see death creeping
Over an ailing liver and a shattered heart.
Upon a sickened liver and battered heart.
وماand not هالنيhas terrified me أنيthat I أموتdie وإنماbut rather
وما هالني أني أموت وإنما
أرىI see الهولthe horror انthat أمضيI depart ولمand have not أتودعbid farewell
أرى الهول ان أمضي ولم أتودع
And my dying has not terrified me; rather,
It is not death that horrifies me, but rather
I see the horror in departing without having said farewell.
To pass away without a chance to say farewell.