شَرِبتُهاI drank it وَاللَيلُand the night مُستَوفِزٌpoised to depart
شَرِبتُها وَاللَيلُ مُستَوفِزٌ
يَجُرُّit drags فيin جِلبابِهِits cloak كَوكَبَهits star
يَجُرُّ في جِلبابِهِ كَوكَبَه
I drank it while night was poised to leap,
I drank it while the night was poised to depart,
dragging its star along within its robe.
Dragging its star within its cloak.
كَأَنَّماas though الجَوزاءَOrion رَقّاصَةٌa female dancer
كَأَنَّما الجَوزاءَ رَقّاصَةٌ
تَرقُصُshe dances فيin مَنطِقَةٍa belt مُذهَبَهgilded
تَرقُصُ في مَنطِقَةٍ مُذهَبَه
As though al-Jawzāʾ were a dancing woman,
As though Orion were a female dancer,
dancing in a gilded girdle;
Dancing in a gilded belt.
كَأَنَّماas though الجَوزاءَOrion طَبّالَةٌa female drummer
كَأَنَّما الجَوزاءَ طَبّالَةٌ
تَحتَضِنُshe cradles الطَبلَthe drum عَلىupon مَرقَبَهa lookout height
تَحتَضِنُ الطَبلَ عَلى مَرقَبَه
as though al-Jawzāʾ were a woman drummer,
As though Orion were a female drummer,
cradling the drum upon a high lookout.
Cradling the drum upon a lookout height.
