سَفَرنَthey unveiled themselves بدوراًas full moons وانتَقَبنَand they veiled themselves أهلَّةًas crescents
سَفَرنَ بدوراً وانتَقَبنَ أهلَّةً
ومسنَand they swayed غُصوناًlike branches والتفَتنَand they turned جآذِراlike young antelopes
ومسنَ غُصوناً والتفَتنَ جآذِرا
Unveiled, they were full moons; veiled, they were crescents.
We traveled in turns and settled in fertile valleys
And they swayed like branches and turned like young antelopes.
We stroked branches and turned to roots
وأبدينَand they revealed أطرافthe ends الشعورof the hair تَستُّراًto conceal themselves
وأبدينَ أطراف الشعور تَستُّراً
فأغدَرَتِso they left الدنياthe world عَليناabove us غَدائِراtresses
فأغدَرَتِ الدنيا عَلينا غَدائِرا
And they revealed the ends of their hair to conceal themselves,
We revealed the edges of feelings in concealment
Leaving the world above us a mass of tresses.
So the world poured heavy tribulations upon us
وربَّتَماand often أطلَعنَthey raised والليلُand the night مُقبلٌapproaching
وربَّتَما أطلَعنَ والليلُ مُقبلٌ
وجوهَfaces شُموسٍof suns تُوقِفُhalt الليلَthe night حائِراbewildered
وجوهَ شُموسٍ تُوقِفُ الليلَ حائِرا
And often, with night approaching, they raised
And perhaps we looked when the night was approaching
Faces like suns that halted the night in bewilderment.
At faces of suns that stop the wandering night
فهنَّso they إذاwhen ماfor emphasis شِئنَthey wish أمسَينَthey bring on evening أوor إذاif
فهنَّ إذا ما شِئنَ أمسَينَ أو إذا
تعرَّضarose أنto يَصبَحنbring on morning كنَّthey are قَوادِراable
تعرَّض أن يَصبَحن كنَّ قَوادِرا
So, whenever they wish, they bring on evening; or if
For they, if they wish, make it evening or if
The wish to bring on morning arises, they have the power.
Faced with the chance of dawn, they are well able