لياليnights تمرpass بآلامهاwith their pains
ليالي تمر بآلامها
وقلبيand my heart علىdespite رفقهits gentleness منof حجرstone
وقلبي على رفقه من حجر
Nights pass with their pains,
And my heart, despite its gentleness, is made of stone.
غفرتI forgave لدهريto my fate إحجافهits injustice
غفرت لدهري إحجافه
فهلbut has ...? غفرforgiven الدهرFate فيمنamong those who غفرforgave
فهل غفر الدهر فيمن غفر
I forgave my fate its injustice;
But has Fate forgiven, as others have?
وقيلand it was said شتاءwinter قصيرshort الحياةlife
وقيل شتاء قصير الحياة
وفيand in العيشlife حلوsweetness وفيand in العيشlife مرbitterness
وفي العيش حلو وفي العيش مر
And it was said, “Winter is short-lived.”
And in life is sweetness, and in life is bitterness.
عرفتI knew زمانيmy times فماand they did not سرنيdelight me
عرفت زماني فما سرني
وهلand is there ...? فيin زمانthe time of الفتىthe young man ماanything that يسرbrings joy
وهل في زمان الفتى ما يسر
I knew my times, and they brought me no joy;
And is there anything in a young man's times to bring him joy?