ريعَتshe was startled مِنَby البَرقِthe lightning وَفيwhile in كَفِّهاher palm
ريعَت مِنَ البَرقِ وَفي كَفِّها
بَرقٌa flash مِنَof القَهوَةِthe wine لَمّاعُgleaming
بَرقٌ مِنَ القَهوَةِ لَمّاعُ
She was startled by lightning, while in her palm
She sipped lightning from the sky and in her palm
was a gleaming flash of wine.
Lightning from the coffee, frothing
ياO لَيتَwould that شِعريmy knowledge وَهيَwhile she is شَمسُthe sun الضُحىmidmorning
يا لَيتَ شِعري وَهيَ شَمسُ الضُحى
كَيفَhow مِنَat الأَنوارthe lights تَرتاعُshe takes fright
كَيفَ مِنَ الأَنوار تَرتاعُ
Would that I knew—though she is the midmorning sun—
If only my poetry knew, as the morning sun knows
how she takes fright at lights!
How she trembles at the lights
Sol 6.1