كأنّas though النجومthe stars الزُهرَbright فيin غَلَسٍmurky darkness الدُجىthe darkness of night
كأنّ النجوم الزُهرَ في غَلَسٍ الدُجى
سناradiance أوجُهِfaces of العافينَthose seeking gifts فيin سنةa year of الردّrefusal
سنا أوجُهِ العافينَ في سنة الردّ
The bright stars in the murk of night are like
The stars are blossoms in the dusk's chalice
the radiance of supplicants’ faces in a year of refusal.
The years are the features of oblivion in the year of return
وقدand indeed أبطأتhave tarried خيلُthe steeds الصباحof morning كأنّهاas though they were
وقد أبطأت خيلُ الصباح كأنّها
بَخيلٌa miser تباطاحينdawdled when سِيلَhe was asked عنfor الرِفدِa gift
بَخيلٌ تباطاحين سِيلَ عن الرِفدِ
And the steeds of morning have tarried, as though they were
And the steeds of the morn have tarried as though
a miser who dawdled when asked for a gift.
Stingy warriors wrestling a torrent from the river bed
Sol 6.1