وَإِذاand when اِنتَضىhe unsheathed قَلَماًa pen لِيَخطُبto deliver an address
وَإِذا اِنتَضى قَلَماً لِيَخطُب
خلتُI imagined فيin يُمناهhis right hand نَصلاa blade
خلتُ في يُمناه نَصلا
And when he unsheathes a pen to deliver an address,
When he rises to make a speech
I imagine a blade in his right hand.
I remain at his right hand, a blade.
كَمhow often رَدَّit repelled عاديةthe onslaught of الخُطوبcalamities
كَم رَدَّ عادية الخُطوب
وَكَمand how often أَعَزّit exalted وَكَمand how often أَذّلاit humbled
وَكَم أَعَزّ وَكَم أَذّلا
How often it has repelled the onslaught of calamities,
How many engagement gifts has he rejected!
and how often it has exalted, and how often humbled!
How many has he honored, how many humiliated!
يَجريit runs فَيُؤمنand so it grants safety خائِفاًa fearful person
يَجري فَيُؤمن خائِفاً
وَيَصبand it pours فيupon الأَعداءthe enemies نبلاarrows
وَيَصب في الأَعداء نبلا
It runs, granting safety to one who is afraid,
He charges, fearful,
and pours arrows upon the enemies.
And rains arrows on the enemies.
Sol 6.1