لَيلٍa night كَفَرعِlike the tresses of الخودِthe young maiden تَخلُفُهُsucceeds it ضُحىًa morning
لَيلٍ كَفَرعِ الخودِ تَخلُفُهُ ضُحىً
زَهراءُradiant مِثلَlike عَوارِضٍteeth زَهراءِgleaming
زَهراءُ مِثلَ عَوارِضٍ زَهراءِ
A night like a maiden’s tresses, followed by a morning
A night like a maiden’s tresses, followed by a morning
radiant as the side teeth of a radiant beauty.
radiant as gleaming teeth,
عَبِقَتwas fragrant بِأَنفاسِwith the breaths of الرِياضِthe gardens كَأَنَّماas though
عَبِقَت بِأَنفاسِ الرِياضِ كَأَنَّما
نَفَضَshook out الرَقيبُthe watcher غُلالَةَthe gauzy shift of الدَلتاءِthe coquettish woman
نَفَضَ الرَقيبُ غُلالَةَ الدَلتاءِ
It was fragrant with the gardens’ breath, as though
fragrant with the gardens’ breath, as though
the sentinel had shaken out al-Dahnāʾ’s gauzy robe.
the watcher had shaken out the coquettish woman’s gauzy shift.
