كأَنَّas though الرُّعودَthe thunderclaps خِلالَamid البُروthe lightning (word continues)
كأَنَّ الرُّعودَ خِلالَ البُرو
قِcompletion of 'lightning' والرّيحُand the wind تُكْثِرُincreases تَحْريضَهاurging them on
قِ والرّيحُ تُكْثِرُ تَحْريضَها
As though the thunderclaps amid the light-
Like thunder amidst the lightning
ning, with the wind urging them on ever more,
And the wind stoking its fury
زُنوجٌBlack men إِذاwhen خَفَقَتْbeat بَيْنَهاamong them
زُنوجٌ إِذا خَفَقَتْ بَيْنَها
دَبادِبُهاtheir war drums جَرَّدَتْunsheathed بيضَهاtheir gleaming swords
دَبادِبُها جَرَّدَتْ بيضَها
Were Black men who, when in their midst
Gnats when their wings flutter
Their war drums beat, unsheathed their gleaming swords.
Shed their whiteness upon it
Sol 6.1