أَشَارَتْ بِأَطْرافٍ لِطَافٍ كأَنَّها

أَشَارَتْ بِأَطْرافٍ لِطَافٍ كأَنَّها

أَنَامِلُ دُرٍّ قُمِّعَتْ بِعَقِيقِ

أَنَامِلُ دُرٍّ قُمِّعَتْ بِعَقِيقِ

She gestured with delicate fingertips, as though they were

fingers of pearl, tipped with agate;

وَدَارَتْ عَلَى الأَوْتَارِ جَسّاً كأَنَّها

وَدَارَتْ عَلَى الأَوْتَارِ جَسّاً كأَنَّها

بَنَانُ طَبيبٍ في مَجَسِّ عُرُوقِ

بَنَانُ طَبيبٍ في مَجَسِّ عُرُوقِ

and they moved over the strings, feeling them, as though they were

a physician’s fingertips at the pulse-point of veins.