يحدو بها الرعدُ فإن كلَّت زَجَر

يحدو بها الرعدُ فإن كلَّت زَجَر

كأنّها والمزن دانٍ مكفهر

كأنّها والمزن دانٍ مكفهر

Thunder drives it onward with song; if it tires, he shouts it on.

The thunder rumbles with it, and if it roars he rebukes

As though it, with the rain clouds near and lowering,

As if it and the clouds are a submissive servant, scowling,

خَوَّفَ بالبرق فوافى يعتذر

خَوَّفَ بالبرق فوافى يعتذر

أو قارئٍ أَمَّ بقومٍ فَجَهَر

أو قارئٍ أَمَّ بقومٍ فَجَهَر

had struck fear with lightning, then came to apologize;

It frightened with lightning, so it came making excuses,

or like a reciter who led a congregation in prayer and recited aloud,

Or a reciter who intends to recite aloud to a group,

متعتعاً من أنفٍ ومن حصر

متعتعاً من أنفٍ ومن حصر

stammering from pride and a speech impediment.

Snorting through a nose and a chest.