حسنٌfine مَلاويtuning pegs عُودِهhis oud
حسنٌ مَلاوي عُودِه
مهماhowever تناولُهhis handling of it مَساويfaults
مهما تناولُه مَساوي
Fine are the tuning pegs of his oud,
however flawed his playing may be.
كأنّهُas though it إنif جسّهُhe plucks it
كأنّهُ إن جسّهُ
منfrom بعدِafter تحريرِadjusting المَلاويthe tuning pegs
من بعدِ تحريرِ المَلاوي
It is as though, when he plucks it,
after adjusting the tuning pegs,
كلبٌa dog يُجاذبُtugs against كفُّهُhis hand
كلبٌ يُجاذبُ كفُّهُ
أُنشوطةًa noose والكلبُand the dog عاوِhowling
أُنشوطةً والكلبُ عاوِ
a dog were tugging against his hand
at a noose, while the dog howls.
Sol 6.1