وَرَنْدٍand a laurel tree إذَاwhen مَاemphatic particle النَّورُthe blossoms كَلَّلَcrowned قُضْبَهُits branches
وَرَنْدٍ إذَا مَا النَّورُ كَلَّلَ قُضْبَهُ
وَأبْدَىand it revealed بَنَانًاfingers بِالعقيقِwith agate مُخَتَّمَاringed
وَأبْدَى بَنَانًا بِالعقيقِ مُخَتَّمَا
And a laurel tree—whenever blossoms crown its branches
When the light crowns its stalk
and it reveals fingers ringed with agate,
And shows a structure sealed with carnelian,
حسبتَyou would think عَذَارَىmaidens الزَّنْجِthe Zanj خَضَّبْنَthey dyed أنْمُلاًfingertips
حسبتَ عَذَارَى الزَّنْجِ خَضَّبْنَ أنْمُلاً
وَنَظَّمْنَand they strung بِالْيَاقُوتِwith rubies جِيداًa neck وَمَحْزِماًand a waist
وَنَظَّمْنَ بِالْيَاقُوتِ جِيداً وَمَحْزِماً
you would think the maidens of the Zanj had dyed their fingertips
You would think the virgins of Africa had dyed their fingers with henna
and strung rubies around neck and waist.
And adorned their necks with rubies and necklaces.
Sol 6.1