ومماand among what يقطَعُcleaves الحيزومَthe chest عنديfor me
ومما يقطَعُ الحيزومَ عندي
مرُوريmy passing بالشّواءِby the roast meat علىon الخوانِthe dining table
مرُوري بالشّواءِ على الخوانِ
And among the things that cleave my chest
What makes my throat constrict
Is passing by roast meat on the dining table.
Is passing by the dishes on the tray
وتندىand grows damp بُردتيmy cloak خَلفيbehind me إذاwhen ماemphatic particle
وتندى بُردتي خَلفي إذا ما
نظرتُI looked إلىat الهرائسِthe meat-and-wheat porridges فيin الجفانِthe serving bowls
نظرتُ إلى الهرائسِ في الجفانِ
And my cloak grows damp behind me whenever
My clothes shiver behind me when
I look at the meat-and-wheat porridges in the serving bowls.
I look upon the lamb chops frying
كأنّas though الزّيتَthe oil والعسلَand the honey المصفّىclarified
كأنّ الزّيتَ والعسلَ المصفّى
عبيرٌperfume خالصٌpure فيin دُهنِoil of بانِthe ben tree
عبيرٌ خالصٌ في دُهنِ بانِ
As though the oil and the clarified honey
As though the strained oil and honey
Were pure perfume in ben-tree oil.
Were pure perfume in the jar of ointment
وباذنجانand eggplants مثلِlike كُراتِballs for ضَربٍstriking
وباذنجان مثلِ كُراتِ ضَربٍ
تَضمّنهاenclosed them لُبابُkernels of الجُلجُلانِsesame
تَضمّنها لُبابُ الجُلجُلانِ
And eggplants, like balls for striking,
And eggplants like balls of fragrance
Were enclosed by sesame kernels.
Wrapped in grape leaves
وقدand indeed وقفَhas come to rest الصّيامfasting علىupon فراغٍemptiness
وقد وقفَ الصّيام على فراغٍ
ونفسيand my soul سوفنَapparently “will” (nonstandard form) تفرغُbecome empty بالأمانيthrough wishes
ونفسي سوفنَ تفرغُ بالأماني
And fasting has come to rest upon emptiness,
Now that fasting has ended
And my soul will be emptied by wishes.
My soul will indulge in wishes
Sol 6.1