عجوزan old woman جفhas grown dry ملمسهاher touch
عجوز جف ملمسها
فلاso no ماءwater ولاand no مرعىpasture
فلا ماء ولا مرعى
An old woman, dry to the touch,
so there is neither water nor pasture.
إذاwhenever ماemphatic particle قيلit is said قدalready هلكتshe has perished
إذا ما قيل قد هلكت
إذاbehold هيshe حيةa serpent; also: alive تسعىslithering
إذا هي حية تسعى
Whenever it is said, 'She has perished,'
behold, she is a serpent, slithering.
Sol 6.1