لوif تبصرُyou see الخلجانthe channels حيثwhere
لو تبصرُ الخلجان حيث
الريحthe wind مطلقةletting loose الجنائبthe led steeds
الريح مطلقة الجنائب
If you could see the channels, where
If you could see the inlets where
the wind lets loose the led steeds,
The winds are freely blowing from the south,
وترىand you see العشارياتthe small riverboats فيin تلكthose
وترى العشاريات في تلك
الجداولthe streams والقواربand the skiffs
الجداول والقوارب
and see the small riverboats in those
And see the little boats on those
streams, and the skiffs,
Brooks and in harbours,
والموجُand the waves بينهماbetween the two of them كسربlike a troop
والموجُ بينهما كسرب
الخيلthe horses ماan emphatic particle بينbetween الكتائبthe battalions
الخيل ما بين الكتائب
and the waves between them like a troop
And the waves between them like troops
of horses amid the battalions,
Of horses amid battalions,
وقلوعهاand their sails راياتهاtheir banners
وقلوعها راياتها
فيin الجوّthe air خافقهfluttering الذوائبthe streamers
في الجوّ خافقه الذوائب
and their sails their banners,
With their banners, their flags
their streamers fluttering in the air,
Fluttering in the air,
لرأيتَyou would indeed see حرباًa battle أججتkindled
لرأيتَ حرباً أججت
بينbetween الأراقمthe speckled serpents والعقاربand the scorpions
بين الأراقم والعقارب
you would see a battle kindled
You would see a battle raging
between the speckled serpents and the scorpions.
Between shrimps and scorpions.