ما بَينَ موسى وَلا فِرعَونَ تَفرِقَةٌ

ما بَينَ موسى وَلا فِرعَونَ تَفرِقَةٌ

عِندَ المَنونِ بِإِكبارٍ وَإِصغارِ

عِندَ المَنونِ بِإِكبارٍ وَإِصغارِ

There is no distinction between Moses and Pharaoh

No distinction between Moses and Pharaoh

In Death's eyes, whether honored or abased.

In the face of death, whether small or grand

كَأَنَّها ذاتُ قُرٍّ أَطعَمَت لَهَباً

كَأَنَّها ذاتُ قُرٍّ أَطعَمَت لَهَباً

ما ضَمَّهُ الحَطبُ مِن سِدرٍ وَمِن غارِ

ما ضَمَّهُ الحَطبُ مِن سِدرٍ وَمِن غارِ

As though she were a chilled woman who fed a flame

As if it were a pitcher that fed a blaze

Whatever the firewood held of lote and laurel;

With whatever wood the kindling or cave had

أَو أُمُّ أَجرٍ جَرى قَتلٌ عَلى نَفَرٍ

أَو أُمُّ أَجرٍ جَرى قَتلٌ عَلى نَفَرٍ

حُرٍّ وَعَبدٍ فَجَرَّتهُم إِلى الغارِ

حُرٍّ وَعَبدٍ فَجَرَّتهُم إِلى الغارِ

Or a mother of cubs, when slaughter befell a group

Or a mother ewe where slaughter befell a flock

Of free men and slaves; then she dragged them to the cave.

Of freeman and slave whom it herded to the cave

تَرمي بِعُضوَينِ ذي نُطقٍ وَذي خُرسٍ

تَرمي بِعُضوَينِ ذي نُطقٍ وَذي خُرسٍ

إِلى فَمٍ لِصُنوفِ الطَعمِ فَغّارِ

إِلى فَمٍ لِصُنوفِ الطَعمِ فَغّارِ

She tosses two body parts—one speaking, one mute—

It throws two, one of speech and one muted

Into a mouth gaping wide for every kind of food.

Into a mouth where all tastes seem bitter